The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the country’s opposition party, has announced its intention to file a case against the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and Rangers regarding the alleged abduction of its chairman, Imran Khan, from the premises of the Islamabad High Court. The party also plans to lodge cases related to the “murder of unarmed citizens at peaceful protests” that took place nationwide.
During a meeting chaired by Imran Khan at his residence in Zaman Park, PTI leaders decided to nominate the interior minister, as well as the chief ministers and police chiefs of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, in these cases. The party further demanded the establishment of a high-powered commission comprising Supreme Court judges to investigate the killings of unarmed citizens and attempts to incite anarchy in the country.
PTI sources claim that at least 24 people have been reported killed and approximately 700 others injured during a series of demonstrations by PTI supporters across the nation. They also stated that over 3,500 party leaders and workers were apprehended by law enforcement agencies and taken to undisclosed locations.
In response to allegations and propaganda circulating against the PTI following the violent incidents on May 9, the party strongly refuted the claims. It emphasized that Imran Khan has always adhered to the principles of law and justice, even in the face of adverse circumstances throughout his political career. The party stated that no acts of violence were committed during the protests that occurred in numerous locations across the country following an assassination attempt on Imran Khan on November 3 the previous year. It accused the controlled media of spreading false propaganda to shield those intending to create unrest and anarchy.
The PTI expressed its condemnation of the proposed “attack” on the Supreme Court by seminary students led by PDM chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman. The party also criticized the alleged handing over of Islamabad’s Red Zone to a private militia force affiliated with a ruling coalition party.
Regarding recent events, the PTI denounced the government’s decision to postpone general elections in Punjab, considering it a violation of the constitution. The party intends to explore legal avenues concerning the future of caretaker governments in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
In the meeting, the PTI leaders were briefed on the Al-Qadir Trust case filed against Imran Khan and his wife, which they regarded as a tactic to politically victimize the couple. The party strongly criticized the ongoing crackdown and arrest of its leaders and workers, demanding the restoration of internet services and the reopening of social media platforms.
Protests organized by the PTI on Sunday saw a large number of people staging peaceful demonstrations in major cities across the country. However, reports surfaced of police and Rangers arresting protesters to disperse the gatherings. Videos circulated on social media showed police mistreating and arresting women during these incidents.
In an interview with Sky News, Imran Khan highlighted the current state of democracy in Pakistan, stating that it was at an “all-time low” and that the judiciary represented the last hope for restoring people’s rights and freedoms. He recounted his own experiences of being taken into custody and the raids on his residence, criticizing the excessive use of force and expressing his determination to face imprisonment.