ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman and former premier Imran Khan Wednesday termed party leader Chaudhry Fawad Hussain’s arrest “a part of plan to rig elections”.
In a televised address from his Zaman Park residence in Lahore, he said that PTI workers were being arrested and there are plans in place against his party, saying that the caretaker setup was also a part of this plan.
Imran said that Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) had no vote bank in Karachi but won the local government elections from there as it was a part of “the grand plan”.
Imran said that PTI expected judiciary to protect its fundamental rights. “I salute the judge who repeatedly asked to produce Fawad in court but he wasn’t,” he added.
Questioning why the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) chose Mohsin Naqvi as the caretaker chief minister of Punjab, he said that it is the electoral body’s responsibility to hold free and fair elections in the country as per Article 218(3) of the Constitution.
“Did you not know about his background? Did you not know he had a major role in regime change operation [against PTI]? He was very active to oust us. His channel was also involved in propaganda against us.”
Imran said the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had also conducted an inquiry against Naqvi and he had returned Rs3.5 million. He said that as opposed to the candidates given by the government, PTI had given “neutral candidates” with good reputations.
The former PM said that the current regime wanted to silence him, therefore, it was taking steps against his party. “What had Azam Swati done? What he tweeted was his opinion. They stripped him naked. Made an objectionable video of him,” he added.
“I do not fear jail. I fear nothing. I have seen death very closely. I believe in the almighty. I also ask others not to be afraid of prison,” he said and added that till the last day he is alive, he will keep fighting for the country.
Talking about journalist Arshad Sharif’s murder, Imran said that every kid in Pakistan knows he was the “most credible journalist in Pakistan”.
“I will fight till the last ball… I will fight against them till my last breath. I never fear jail. I am a free person [and] I will never accept slavery.”
The former premier said that there were two segments in Pakistani society and the interests of one, which was in minority, did not align with the country’s interests. “There are two segments of Pakistani society. One is corrupt and loots everything. They flee the country when it is in trouble. Stake of this segment is not aligned with Pakistan. But there is another segment which is in majority and its life depends on Pakistan.”
Imran said that he thought that the institutions will never back those who have nothing to do with this country. “But unfortunately they backed those who ousted our government. Just Google what our own institutions brought to the fore against these people,” he added.
Criticising the government for making a mess of the economy, Imran said that the way it is being handled, the system will stop working entirely.
“During our tenure, wheat was Rs75 today it is Rs135. Petrol and Diesel prices are low in international market today as compared to our tenure and more inflation is coming your way.”
The PTI chief said that Pakistan never had such financial woes as it is going through these days. However, he added the rulers were busy eliminating their corruption cases.
“Ask anyone, businessmen or salaried person how he is managing. Pakistan has system of oppression and injustice and we have to do jihad against it,” he said.
Addressing judiciary and the lawyers’ fraternity, he said that they should take a stand for rule of law. “There is no future of Pakistan as they (the rulers) are imposing the law of the jungle. We have no future. People are hopeless and already 0.7 to 0.8 million people have left the country in the last eight to nine months because there is no hope,” he added.
Condemning the arrest of Fawad, PTI Chairman said: “Fawad’s arrest on his apt description of the CEC leaves no doubt in anyone’s mind that Pakistan has become a banana republic devoid of rule of law.”
“We must stand up for our fundamental rights now to save Pak’s drift towards a point of no return,” he added.
In his reaction, PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that Fawad’s arrest without warrant was a strong slap on the face of democracy and supremacy of the rule of law of this country.
He raised question as what was Fawad’s fault and what crime he committed that he was taken into custody. Qureshi stressed the need to stop playing with Pakistan, or else the situation would not be anyone’s control.
Similarly, in his strong reaction, PTI Senior Secretary General Asad Umar said that the truth was bitter and Fawad spoke the truth, which was the sole reason of his detention. Asad said that Fawad was innocent and he must be released forthwith.
“You must respond to his argument in the same manner rather than using force,” he added. He said the government’s move would rebound on it while the PTI would be the ultimate beneficiary.
“All workers should reach Zaman Park, as I have already there,” he urged the party supporters.
Omer Ayub Khan PTI Additional General Secretary reacted: “Today 3 countries of the world are put in the same bracket – North Korea, Myanmar and Pakistan. All due to the untiring efforts of this Imported government. He said that forced abductions, false charges and arrests, zero freedom of speech, zero rule of law were the common factors amongst all three countries.
PTI senior leader Asad Qaiser strongly condemned the arrest of Fawad Chaudhary, which, he said, that was a clear reflection of politics of intolerance, as Mohsin Naqvi gave the first proof of loyalty to please his masters. He said that the imported government and its facilitators wanted to worsen the situation, which would have dire consequences.
Asad Qaiser stated that they were mistaken if they thought that the PTI leaders would be terrified through detentions and intimidations.
He vowed that they would continue their struggle within the ambit of constitution and law. However, Asad Qaiser warned that if an attempt was made to arrest Imran Khan, public would react strongly across the country for which the federal government and the interim government would be held accountable for political chaos and economic instability in the country.
Strongly condemning the arrest, Hammad Azhar PTI General Secretary Central Punjab said that Fawad was being transported to Islamabad via the motorway “in clear defiance of the high court’s orders”.
He said that that police officers pointed their rifles at him and threatened to back off when he, along with party leaders, were following the motorcade of the law enforcers.
Hammad stated that the fascism of the regime was directly proportional to its economic blunders. The more they mess up, the greater was their need to silence dissent, he added.
He went on to say that LHC judge issues written order to produce Fawad before him from ‘wherever he is’; however police drove Fawad in a direction away from LHC, adding that police was driving Fawad in circles but not bringing him to LHC as per the judge’s orders.
Hammad recalled that the fact was that Fawad reminded the Election Commission members of their duty of impartiality. “He also stated that what punishment is prescribed in the law in case of partiality and violation of the constitution,” Hammad added.
He said that it was strange that the ECP would keep on continuing making controversial decisions but no one even could criticize the decisions.
PTI Central Secretary Information Farrukh Habib strongly flayed the imported government for detaining Fawad and said: “This imported government has gone berserk.”
Farrukh said that police were taking Fawad to Islamabad in sheer violation of LHC’s orders. “I stopped police at Kala Shah Kaka only try to remind them about LHC orders but they forcefully taken him to Islamabad, indicating that they were obeying orders of some one more power full then courts,” he added.
He said that the law enforcers shot at him.
In his reaction, Ali Haider Zaidi said that he strongly condemned the arrest of the senior party leader and said the government was hell-bent on pushing this country towards anarchy. He said that Pakistan has become a lawless state at the hands of these lawbreaking lawmakers and corrupt law enforcement officers.
PTI Senator Shibli Faraz reacted that the arrest of Fawad Chaudhry was proof of the cowardice of this government.
PTI Senior leader Imran Ismail said that there was not one, but a hundred thousand Fawad Chaudhry in PTI. He said that now the days of the failed government were numbered. “We cannot be silenced through such brutal tactics,” he added.
PTI Senator Shaukat Tarin, in his reaction, stated: “All, Fawad has been asking the State Organs is to fulfill its constitutional obligations and hold free and fair elections. Is that a crime in a democratic country?
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan also condemned the arrest of party bigwig Fawad Chaudhry for allegedly threatening the officials of the top electoral body.
In a tweet, the former prime minister said: “Fawad’s arrest on his apt description of the CEC [chief election commissioner] leaves no doubt in anyone s mind that Pakistan] has become a banana republic devoid of rule of law”.
The PTI chief also urged the people to stand up for their fundamental rights now before the country reached a point of no return. He also announced a press conference at 4pm today (Wednesday). “We must stand up for our fundamental rights now to save Pak s drift towards a point of no return,” he wrote.
Meanwhile, Mr Khan phoned Fawad Chaudhry’s wife, Hiba Chaudhry, to express solidarity with her. He also called the police action to arrest the PTI bigwig a “foolish act”.
