PTI slams ‘denial of justice’ to Imran

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf›s (PTI) core committee Friday strongly condemned the ‘denial of justice’ to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan.

In its declaration, the core committee also vehemently condemned the ‘extraordinary slowing down’ of trial or closing the doors of justice through ‹reserved verdicts› to speed up the exhibition trials of false cases and deprive chairman Imran Khan of his fundamental right to justice.

“The false and hateful propaganda campaign against Imran Khan›s wife and the condemnable harassment of the family is a desperate attempt to force the chairman to compromise on principles and withdraw from his exemplary principled political struggle,” it said.

Despite the announcement of the election date, it noted, the extra-legal restrictions on peaceful political activities in the country and the increase in retaliation against PTI officials and workers are a plan to ‘kill’ democracy.

The core committee said Central Additional Secretary General Ali Nawaz Awan, Akbar Khan Tanoli, Malik Amir and all the workers ‘kidnapped for (extracting) statement’ should be immediately recovered and released.

The forum paid tributes to the courage and perseverance of the jailed senior leaders and male and female workers. It also asked the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to formally release the order for allotment of ‘bat’ as a symbol to PTI.

“Attempts to deprive the basic legal and democratic right to provide the ‘bat’ symbol are a serious conspiracy against the transparency of elections,” it noted.

The core committee said the state efforts to pave the way for a national criminal and a person convicted by the courts to reach power under the London Agreement by laying down the bodies of the Constitution, law and democracy is disastrous for internal stability, economic recovery and national harmony and security.

Despite the worst state repression and fascism of the PTI in the elections, it contended, the strategy of participation and determination of candidates was also discussed in the meeting.

The committee reiterated its commitment to counter the state›s attempts to oust the PTI from the elections in every possible political, legal and democratic manner. It also decided to strongly resist the state›s efforts to reduce turnout by disappointing the people with fear and excessive use of force and preventing them from participating in the election process.

The forum expressed deep regret over the seriousness of Israel›s criminal war crimes in Palestine, the role of the United Nations, especially the Muslim Ummah and the United Nations, for ceasefire and to halt humanitarian atrocities.

It called for continued full political, moral and diplomatic support to the Palestinian people and force Israel into a ceasefire and reiterated its demand for strict accountability by the International Court of Justice for committing war crimes.