LAHORE: Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan has alleged that both Pervaiz Khattak and Asad Qaiser, members of the PTI negotiating committee, have been held in a safe house where they were invited for talks.
He said both the PTI stalwarts are not being allowed to leave the place unless they announce their disassociation from the party. He was delivering a virtual address to the nation on Thursday evening.
Chairman PTI also announced filing a reference against the chairman of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in the Supreme Judicial Council besides a defamation suit of Rs 15 billion for his mala fide motives, as his arrest in a fabricated corruption scandal was an attempt to tarnish his international reputation.
He also expressed concern that such actions might negatively impact fundraising efforts for both Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital (SKMH) and Numal University.
PTI chairman has also appealed to human rights organisations worldwide to raise their voices against the illegal detention of ten thousand of PTI workers and the killing of 25 in a direct firing during the May 9 protests.
He claimed that due legal procedures were not being followed, and detained activists were being subjected to torture in unhealthy conditions without being presented before the courts.
He reiterated his demand for an independent inquiry into the incidents that occurred on May 9.
Addressing the ruling Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) leadership, Imran Khan warned that they could be exposed to plan B of the establishment, as his experience of the past 27 years suggests that the establishment takes no time to shift from plan A to plan B.
He questioned why the PDM parties remained silent about the current state atrocities against PTI workers and supporters, reminding them that 95% of cases against PDM party leaders were filed during previous governments, not during PTI’s rule. However, he said cases against Shehbaz Sharif were registered during his tenure. Imran Khan confidently stated that regardless of the challenges faced by PTI, they would emerge victorious in future elections.
He expressed his willingness to forgive everyone for their actions against him and his family once PTI returns to power. However, he questioned what he would do when his party leaders and activists, who are suffering today, demanded action against those currently in power.
According to him, he has been isolated altogether, experiencing a media blackout and restrictions on visitors. “Even my lawyers are panicked and hesitating to see me,” he said and quipped whether these tactics would make people forget about PTI.
PTI chairman raised concerns about the benefits of isolating him from the country and whether those responsible were considering the future of Pakistan.
He claimed that such tactics were aimed at creating a hung parliament that could be easily controlled.
In a message to his workers, Imran Khan urged them to stand firm despite the difficult times. He emphasized that such individuals would be remembered as those who stood for the country and made sacrifices for it.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2023