No room for deserters in PTI, vows Imran

RAWALPINDI: Incarcerated former prime minister Imran Khan has announced a policy for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) deserters, stating that there was no room for those who left the party during difficult times.

“I want to clearly state that there is no space for those who abandoned the party during difficult times,” the PTI founder said while speaking to journalists in Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail on Friday.

Refusing to name anyone, the embattled party founder said that he knows who abandoned the party during bad times. “Those who were active during good times but left during hardships have no place in the party,” he added.

However, the deposed premier said those who endured violence — which according to him included torture on their families and blackmailing — in difficult times but did not leave the party have nothing to worry about. The May 9 violent protests saw attacks on state properties including military installations by PTI activists. Earlier, Accountability Court, Islamabad, adjourned the hearing of the 190 million pounds case against former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi till September 4.

Accountability Court Judge Nasir Javed Rana heard the reference of 190 million pounds in Adiala jail, Rawalpindi. Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi were brought before the court from jail. Defence lawyers Zaheer Abbas and Usman Gill appeared in the court while on behalf of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Prosecutor General Sardar Muzaffar Abbasi appeared in the court along with his team.

During the hearing, the defence lawyers questioned Umar Nadeem, the investigating officer of the 190 million pounds reference, which could not be completed. Bushra Bibi’s lawyer Usman Gil filed a contempt of court petition after NAB did not respond to Bushra Bibi’s plea for acquittal in the 190 million pounds reference.

In the petition, the position was adopted that NAB was avoiding answers in the last eight hearings, and contempt of court action should be taken against NAB. Later, the court adjourned the hearing of 190 million pounds reference till September 4. At the next hearing, the lawyers will continue to cross-examine the investigation officer.