Musharraf, Zia regimes better than this govt: Imran

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan said on Friday that even Ziaul Haq and Musharraf’s martial laws were better than the current democratic setup.

Speaking informally to reporters at Adiala Jail Rawalpindi during £190 million reference hearing, he said the incumbent government was trying to destroy the Supreme Court, democracy and freedom of citizens.

He announced that a jalsa would be held at Minar-e-Pakistan Lahore to save the Supreme Court, democracy and freedom. He said the PTI was given a guarantee for holding a jalsa in Islamabad, and that was why it had postponed its meeting. Despite the guarantee, containers were placed to block the Islamabad rally. He asked if it happened ever in the world that a deadline was given for ending the public meeting.

“We were deceived about the rally in Islamabad. If the Lahore deputy commissioner does not allow the rally, then protest would be held at Minar-e-Pakistan. If Maulana Fazlur Rehman can hold a rally in Lahore, why the PTI is not being allowed to hold a jalsa,” he added. The PTI founder said election was an administrative process. What Rawalpindi commissioner said had proved right. There should have been an investigation on the statement of Pindi commissioner. But instead of an investigation on his statement, the commissioner went missing, he regretted. Imran Khan the chief justice would be a direct beneficiary of the constitutional amendments.

He said today, those who respect democracy and vote were standing on one side of the divide; and on the other side, there were people who respect only the powers-that-be.

Earlier, Islamabad’s Special Accountability Court Judge Nasir Javed Rana adjourned the hearing of Al-Qadir Trust reference against Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi in £190 million financial scandal till Sept 24.

In addition to the two accused and their lawyers, NAB lawyers including Sardar Muzaffar Abbasi and Amjad Parvez were also present. Usman Gul, the lawyer for Bushra Bibi, started cross-examination of the investigating officer in the case, Mian Umar Nadeem. During the cross-examination, the lawyers the accused requested the court to adjourn the hearing till Sept 24.