PTI to write to CJP over alleged false cases

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders said on Thursday that the party’s former chairman and ex-premier Imran Khan is enduring hardships of imprisonment for the sake of the people, the country, and the Constitution.

Addressing a joint news conference here outside the Supreme Court, they announced that a letter will be written to the Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Yahya Afridi, to inform him about the alleged false cases registered against PTI leadership and workers.

The news conference was addressed by PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja, Latif Khosa, Babar Awan, Niazullah Niazi and Ali Bukhari.

On the occasion, Babar Awan demanded that all cases against Imran Khan must be dropped and all arrested political workers be released. He further demanded that ongoing cases against other political leaders must be concluded first, particularly the pending Model Town case.

Babar Awan said that no peace will return to Pakistan until new elections are held. He claimed that selective judicial actions have damaged the judicial system and that those currently imposed on the country have caused two major harms: loss of public trust and a lack of competent leadership to handle international relations.

“The country has become a banana republic,” he said, adding that the largest political party’s offices are shut, social media is restricted, and prisoners are denied visitation rights.

“Such violations of personal privacy and dignity have never occurred in Pakistan’s history, Awan said, adding that Imran Khan faces the most cases, followed by Omar Ayub.

Speaking on the occasion, Salman Akram Raja said that Imran Khan wishes for the public to be made aware of the prevailing “lawlessness”, while the “rulers want a graveyard-like silence”.

He said the PTI founder has been imprisoned for 22 months and the proceedings of the cases against him are being conducted behind closed doors, which is a deviation from the law. He demanded a fair and open trial so the public could witness the process.

He added that efforts are being made to keep Imran Khan away from the public. “All of Khan’s facilities have been withdrawn, meetings are prohibited, and even his sons are not allowed to speak with him.”

He claimed that a gulf has been created between the state and the public. He also alleged that Bushra Bibi has been unjustly imprisoned. “If this fascism is not stopped, we will soon call for action”, Salman Raja said and claimed that no boundary is safe now, there is a water issue in Sindh, and the enemy is blocking the country’s water. “It would be better for you to step aside between the people and the PTI founder, or else this nation will not forgive you”, he added.

Similarly, speaking on the occasion, Latif Khosa spoke about the 26th Constitutional Amendment, saying that the way it was passed with arrogance will be brought before the public. He alleged that Akhtar Mengal was searching for his senator in Parliament, and many PTI MNAs were either enticed or abducted. “Our leader is the heartbeat of the people, yet he’s not being allowed to meet anyone”, Khosa claimed.

He added that Sindh’s farmers, lawyers, and citizens are on the streets. “India has now dared to unilaterally end the Indus Waters Treaty and expel our attachés, something it hadn’t dared before—this has happened under the current government.”

Similarly, Niazullah Niazi said that the person with the public’s real mandate is in jail, and the moment he steps out, the nation will stand with him. He demanded that the PTI founder be included in the National Security Committee meetings, saying he has become more important than the Prime Minister’s office.