The PTI strongly opposed Imran Khan’s re-arrest on Tuesday and urged an “open and transparent trial of the baseless and frivolous cipher case.”
After a crucial meeting, the PTI core committee declared that the former premier’s re-arrest, despite a clear release order from the Islamabad High Court (IHC), shows a lack of respect for the law in the nation.
The committee highlighted that, among the more than 180 bogus accusations leveled against the PTI leader, the current cipher case looks to be an autocratic ploy aimed at compelling him to give up the pursuit of true independence for the sake of the country.
The committee asserted that Imran Khan has a right to freedom under Pakistani law and that some extra-constitutional, democratic forces in power were intent to keep him jailed.
The committee contended that legal procedures continue to be violated, as evidenced by the special court’s handling of the cipher issue, drawing comparisons to earlier instances like the Toshakhana case.
The special court’s verdict in the cipher case was deemed inappropriate by the committee because it seemed to flout long-standing criminal statutes. The committee claims that this violation of the law further damages the court’s credibility.
To gain physical and judicial remand, the accused must be presented in court, according to Section 167 of the Criminal Code, the committee noted while highlighting a specific legal point.
It should be mentioned that Imran Khan, who is now detained at Attock Jail, was neither produced before a special court nor informed of his remand status before the IHC acting to order his release.
The committee additionally pointed out that there are no clear documents on the trial’s scheduling about the special court’s ruling.
The arrest in one case was followed by the release in another, which was condemned as being contradictory to previous statements made by the chief justice of the Peshawar High Court and the renowned judge of the Islamabad High Court, Justice Babar Sattar.
Concerns about the integrity of the entire judicial system are raised by the continued contempt for legal rules in the inferior courts, which is demonstrated by the handling of Imran Khan’s challenges.
The committee issued an advisory that these actions might cause the state’s system of justice and fairness to deteriorate.
The PTI core committee further argued that serious dangers to the stability of the nation come from the overwhelming majority of lawlessness, uncontrolled authority, and constitutional transgressions by non-constitutional forces. The same special court judge is accused of extending Shah Mehmood Qureshi’s physical detention, who is still in the care of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), without a compelling reason. In addition, this judge appears to have “neglected” to respond to complaints of Qureshi being mistreated and treated inhumanely, which is against accepted protocol.
The committee also drew attention to the difficulties PTI Central President Chaudhry Parvez Elahi faces, who still endures “undue hardship” despite his medical problems. The committee claimed that state-sponsored violence and retaliation against PTI leaders and members, notably women and workers who are currently detained, are being subtly encouraged by the lower courts. These subordinate courts seem to be enabling state mechanisms to elude legal processes, exercise excessive power, and infringe upon citizens’ fundamental rights rather than putting a stop to the common abuse of false charges.
The committee strongly stated that despite criminal violations of the law, the pursuit of genuine democracy, adherence to the Constitution, and the struggle for true national freedom championed by Imran Khan will not stop.
They expressed hope that despite the existing limitations, the “chains of state oppression will soon break,” ushering in a new era of freedom under Imran Khan’s leadership.
It also expressed gratitude for the brave workers who “stood firm against state brutality,” ultimately protecting the law.
