ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Information Secretary Waqas Akram on Thursday urged the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) to take notice of what he called “inhumane” treatment being meted out to PTI founder Imran Khan, his spouse and other party leaders.
He expressed deep concern over their mistreatment during, what he described as, their illegal detention on fabricated, concocted and politically motivated charges.
Addressing a press conference, Waqas Akram strongly criticised the government for depriving the PTI founder of all fundamental and basic rights, stating that he had been confined to a death cell and subjected to 22 hours of solitary confinement daily.
“I appeal to the Honorable Chief Justice of Pakistan—your directives are being openly flouted by the Adiala jail administration. The integrity of the judiciary is being mocked and undermined,” he claimed.
Waqas urged the chief justice to take immediate and decisive action to restore the dignity and authority of the judiciary and to halt the “inhumane” treatment of PTI founder, as well as the party’s leadership and workers, without delay.
He affirmed that PTI’s leadership and workers remained resolute and would continue their peaceful legal and political struggle for the supremacy of Constitution, rule of law, judicial independence and ‘Haqeeqi Azadi’.
He argued that the denial of basic rights to the party’s leadership and workers was a grave concern, emphasizing that Imran Khan remains the country’s most popular leader and that the entire nation is deeply troubled by his well-being and safety.
Waqas further stated that the PTI founder has been unjustly denied access to newspapers, television and books, while all meetings with friends and political associates have been arbitrarily suspended. He alleged that even his legal counsel has been barred from consulting him on over 200 politically motivated and baseless cases, which he called a blatant violation of his right to a fair legal defence.
He also claimed that Imran’s wife, Bushra Bibi, has been denied the right to meet her family, while Aleema Khan is barred from visiting her brother, and other sisters are only occasionally permitted visits. He questioned why there was such fear of the PTI founder, adding that if he truly threatened the status quo, it must be acknowledged that he is the country’s most prominent political leader.
Highlighting the deteriorating health of senior party leaders, including Shah Mahmood Qureshi, he called it a pressing humanitarian issue. Referring to Dr Yasmin Rashid, he said, “Even if she defeated Nawaz Sharif politically, her basic human rights cannot be ignored.”
The PTI information secretary pointed out that despite being granted bail by the Supreme Court, Ejaz Chaudhry remained imprisoned in the same case.