— This country is mine and so is the army: PTI chief
— Claims there is a plan to assassinate or imprison him
LAHORE: Former prime minister Imran Khan on Monday called upon Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial to launch a comprehensive investigation into “continuing threats” to his life and the “assault” on his Zaman Park home.
In a letter to the top judge, dated March 20 (today), the former prime minister claimed that the events of Saturday — when Khan’s house was raided by the Punjab Police while he was at Islamabad Judicial Complex for his court hearing in the Toshakhana case — were evidence that a plot was afoot to assassinate him yet again.
Imran Khan, in his letter, also said that he had been consistently requesting for video link facility from courts for multiple court appearances because his “life is at risk”.
“With no security provided to me and with one assassination plot already attempted against my life in Wazirabad, I have been placing my life at risk every time I have to make a court appearance,” he added.
He also accused the ruling coalition of trying its best to provoke military against his party, the PTI, by launching a campaign on social media and added that no one could control public reaction on social media.
The statement comes just hours after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif urged overseas Pakistanis not to support the “vicious” conspiracy against the Pakistan Army and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir.
Shehbaz called a “smear campaign” against the army chief had been launched by the PTI under the “continuation” of a conspiracy against the military, which he said was “unacceptable.”
Sharif also accused Imran Khan of “damaging the country and undermining our armed forces and their leadership.” He stressed the need to reject his political rival’s “agenda.” The PTI has repeatedly denied any involvement in the alleged campaign against the army, with party officials calling the accusations baseless and unfounded.
Addressing the media from his Zaman Park residence here, Imran claimed that the ruling coalition was “orchestrating” a campaign to incite a confrontation between the PTI and the army in an attempt to eliminate his party, which he said, the ruling parties cannot defeat in the elections.
“Efforts are being made to make PTI and the army come face to face. PDM is trying hard to incite quarrel between PTI and the army as these people [PDM] cannot win the elections so they want to eliminate PTI,” he said.
“I want to make it clear that this country is mine and so is the army. I have to live and die in Pakistan,” he asserted.
Their plan is to assassinate me, says Imran
Imran Khan alleged that their plan is to assassinate him during his court hearing at Islamabad Judicial Complex, claiming that he knew well he would either go to jail or be murdered.
“It took four hours for me to reach the court from the toll plaza. When I arrived at the court, there were a huge number of police personnel deployed inside the court,” he said and alleged that few people who were in civilian clothing came inside and started beating people and the police started shelling on the PTI workers.
The PTI chairman Imran Khan urged the Chief Justice of Pakistan to take notice of the current situation in the country. He said that even if he is imprisoned, it wouldn’t affect the election results.
On his appearance before the court Imran Khan said that the accused who attacked him is presented before the court via video link but he is presented before the court in person despite death threats. There was no proper security during my appearance at the judicial complex, he added.
The former Prime Minister Imran Khan lambasted at Punjab caretaker government saying that they came to power just to ruin Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and that Mohsin Naqvi has become a millionaire after becoming the caretaker CM, he added.
In the aftermath of recent events, the PTI chairman Imran Khan clarified that efforts are being made to create a rift between PTI and the state institutions but “this country is mine and the armed forces are also mine” .
Imran said despite death threats he was appearing before courts as he was only concerned about the country and not afraid of death.
The PTI chief said his political opponents were not concerned about the country’s issues and conspiring to eliminate him to protect their vested interests.
The PTI chief said what the ‘imported government’ did to him had never happened in the history of the country.
“Their objective is to kill me by spreading chaos when I go out to appear before court. My life is in danger,” he asserted,
He also lashed out at Punjab caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi, saying he was appointed to the post not for holding elections but to banish his party.
He also urged overseas Pakistanis to apprise the international community of how human rights of his party workers are being violated by the incumbent PDM government.
“We will approach international human rights organisations. We will contact countries through PTI offices abroad to inform them about the human rights violations in Pakistan,” he added.
He also denounced the ruling party leaders for calling his party workers terrorists, saying such allegations will spread hatred and divide the nation.
