- Ex-PM says May 9, 2023 ‘events’ were ‘used as pretext to arrest thousands of PTI members and supporters
- Terms civilians military trials egregious violation of fundamental human rights and Constitution
ISLAMABAD: Incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan on Thursday penned a letter to Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi, emphasizing top judge to bring about an end to the “terror and brutality by the state and the suppression of democracy,”
The letter themed as: “Meltdown of the constitutional order in Pakistan” and dated January 24, was signed from Adiala Jail.
“You are hereby called upon to exercise all powers vested in the Supreme Court of Pakistan to bring to an end the terror and brutality by the state and the suppression of democracy that are today denying to the people of Pakistan their basic human rights. One or more judicial commissions may be set up to examine the grievances of the people of Pakistan, some of which have been referred to in this letter,” Imran concluded in his 18-page letter that was attached with over 300 pages of evidence for the ex-premier’s assertions regarding the highhandedness against his party and the state of the country.
Imran writes that several petitions highlighting the “assault on fundamental human rights and the electoral process” were filed over the last 18 months and more before the Supreme Court to safeguard the constitutionally guaranteed fundamental rights of the people.
“When all organs and agencies of the state that are mandated by the law to exercise power in order to safeguard life, liberty and democracy stand subjugated by brute force and are acting in aid of persecution and fraud it is the duty of the Supreme Court of Pakistan to intervene.
“The Supreme Court of Pakistan has not been vested with enormous power by the Constitution of Pakistan in order to act as a bystander. Unfortunately, none of the petitions filed before this honourable court, including by me, have been taken up. This has allowed a free hand to a reign of brutality and fraud,” Imran alleged.
Imran said the evidence he attached pertained to the “ongoing murders, injuries, abductions and torture carried out against members and supporters of the PTI in order to sustain the regime in office”.
Lashing out at the current setup, he said it was “the result of oppression and of large scale electoral fraud carried out on February 8 and 9, 2024. Unarmed protesters have been met with barbaric state brutality. Reference may be made to the dossier … provides the names and photographs of some of those who lost their lives or sustained firearm injuries on November 26, 2024”, referring to the allegations of rigging in the general elections and the events of November in Islamabad last year that saw clashes between PTI supporters and law enforcement.
“A list of 172 individuals injured on November 26, 2024 is placed here … Hospital records of the martyred and the injured were sealed and tampered with by state personnel. Police stations refused to register first information reports. Over 10,000 PTI supporters were arrested between November 24-27, 2024 all across Pakistan,” the PTI founder alleged.
Criticising how his own arrest on May 9, 2023, was carried out, the former prime minister claimed that the events of the day were “used as a pretext to arrest thousands of members and supporters of the PTI all across the country” with over 100 people handed over to military custody for military trials.
“Military court trials of civilians with no appeal to an independent court are an egregious violation of the fundamental human rights recognised by the Constitution of Pakistan and by human rights law the world over.”
Pointing out his own continued incarceration, the PTI founder said over 200 “fake and frivolous cases” were registered against him. “The entirety of my detention has been marked by routine mistreatment and a systematic curtailment of my rights as a political prisoner. The abuse intensified during the period from October 3-25, 2024, for not just me but also for the other over 8,000 other prisoners in Adiala Jail. During this time, I was held incommunicado from the outside world, in solitary confinement, denied essential privileges, and subjected to degrading treatment,” he added.
Regarding the treatment meted out to the PTI leadership and party base, he said: “The targeted attacks against the leadership, workers, and supporters of the PTI are nothing short of a sustained campaign of political persecution and terror.
“PTI’s political cadre, from its senior-most leaders to its grassroots supporters, has been subjected to relentless threats, abductions, and enforced disappearances. Their homes and offices have been brazenly ransacked, and their families have faced direct intimidation, creating an environment of pervasive fear and insecurity.
“Such individuals are not merely kidnapped and intimidated; they are forced, often under threat or through psychological and physical abuse, to act according to the dictates of their captors. The coercion includes, but is not limited to, voting in parliamentary sessions according to their abductors’ desires, having had family members kidnapped, domestic servants abused and beaten, children threatened, detention in the dark of the night from within the precincts of parliament.
“Remarkably, forcible or public renunciation of political affiliation often results in a reclamation of liberty. This manipulation of political expression and freedom represents a dire affront to democracy and the rule of law, turning basic rights into bargaining chips at the mercy of shadowy forces operating with impunity.”
Imran also highlighted the constraints placed on his party’s attempts at electoral and political campaigning such as restrictions on holding protests and assemblies.
The PTI founder alleged that the “abusive and coercive” tactics against his party had extended well beyond to cover all those critical of the government with abductions, torture and intimidation becoming “the order of the day”.
The ex-premier also pointed to developments in the country’s legal landscape such as the continued lack of implementation of the apex court’s reserved seats verdict and changes to the election laws and judicial apparatus.
“It is clear that given the persistent abuse of the law by state authorities, that the very idea of the rule of law and of fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution has become a mere allusion. This coordinated abuse of the law is a betrayal of the trust reposed in these institutions by the citizens of Pakistan, who rightfully expect integrity and justice in the discharge of their duties.”
The former prime minister had written similar letters to ex-CJP Qazi Faez Isa in November 2023 and April 2024.
