Pakistan has become a police state: Imran

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder Imran Khan has said the country has become a police state and this “martial law” is even tougher than that of Gen Ziaul Haq and Gen Pervez Musharraf.

In an informal conversation with journalists in Adiala jail, Imran Khan said that everything had become clear after the decision of Supreme Court on the reserved seats. “The NAB amendment case was going on but when we requested to hear our requests, they were not heard,” he added.

He said that there was an attempt to keep the PTI out of the election and destroy the party. “Now everything has been exposed and veils removed. The Practice and Procedure Act was aimed at hearing cases in an undemocratic manner,” he alleged.

He announced a protest on Thursday for the independence of the judiciary. “We have our own protest on Friday and will hold a rally in Rawalpindi on Saturday. We will protest if it is not allowed,” he added.

The former prime minister alleged that the subordinate judiciary was completely under their control. “If a judge cannot be controlled, he is transferred. When a judge started to decide the May 9 cases, he was also removed,” he charged.

Meanwhile, KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur met Imran in jail.

Special Accountability Court Judge Nasir Javed Rana on Tuesday adjourned the hearing in the Al-Qadir Trust reference due to the non-appearance of a defence lawyer.

The cross-examination of the final witness in the reference was delayed once again, prompting the court to adjourn the proceedings until Wednesday (today). At the hearing, the accused (Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi) and National Accountability Bureau (NAB) lawyers were present.

The defence lawyers requested an adjournment, citing that Bushra Bibi’s lawyer, Usman Gul, was unwell and unable to attend. However, the NAB prosecutor opposed the adjournment, pointing out that 12 lawyers had already submitted legal documentation on behalf of the accused, and that the cross-examination of final witness, who had appeared in 23 hearings, remained incomplete.

After hearing the NAB prosecutor’s objections, the court expressed strong displeasure over the request for postponement, warning that this would be the final opportunity to complete the cross-examination. The hearing was then adjourned until Wednesday (today).

The Islamabad High Court has halted the trial court from delivering its final judgment but it has not suspended the trial itself.