Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday claimed that the country's powerful military establishment has schemed to keep him imprisoned for the next ten years under sedition charges. In a series of tweets early Monday morning, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chief stated that the plan is to use a sedition law to keep him in jail while also humiliating him by imprisoning his wife, Bushra Begum. These tweets came after Khan held a meeting with PTI leaders at his Lahore residence.
"So now the complete London plan is out. Using pretext of violence while I was inside the jail, they have assumed the role of judge, jury and executioner. The plan now is to humiliate me by putting Bushra begum (Khan's wife) in jail, and using some sedition law to keep me inside for next ten years," he tweeted.
Khan, who is 70 years old and has been on bail for more than 100 cases, alleged that the authorities have unleashed deliberate terror not just on PTI workers but on common citizens as well to ensure that there is no public reaction. Additionally, he stated that the media is being controlled and muzzled. According to him, the government is trying to instill so much fear in people that they won't come out when they come to arrest him. Moreover, houses are being broken in, and police are manhandling the women of the houses shamelessly.
"To ensure that there is no public reaction, they have done two things -- first deliberate terror is unleashed not just on PTI workers but on common citizens as well. Second, the media is totally controlled and muzzled," he added.
Never has the sanctity of chadar and chaar dewaari been violated the way it is being done by these "criminals", Imran Khan further alleged.
Khan has urged the people of Pakistan to fight for their freedom and not bow down to the idol of fear, stating that if they do, there will only be humiliation and dismemberment for future generations. Furthermore, he said that countries where there is injustice and the law of the jungle prevails, don't survive for long.
"This is a deliberate attempt to instill so much fear in people that when they come to arrest me tomorrow, people won't come out. And tomorrow they will again suspend internet services and ban social media (which is only partially open). Meanwhile, as we speak, houses are being broken in and shamelessly police are manhandling the women of the houses," he said.
"I urge all my people to remember that we have pledged LA Illah ha illalah, that we bow to no one except the One (Allah). If we bow to the idol of fear there will only be humiliation and dismemberment for our future generations. Countries where there is injustice and law of jungle prevails, don't survive for long," he added.
Khan was granted bail by the Islamabad High Court (IHC) but feared re-arrest, so he locked himself in the court premises before returning to his Lahore home on Saturday. The IHC granted him bail in all cases registered against him beyond May 9 and asked him to approach the Lahore High Court for further relief on May 15.
Khan also accused the JUI-F of staging a drama outside the Supreme Court to intimidate the chief justice of Pakistan so that he does not give a verdict according to the Constitution. He noted that Pakistan had previously seen a brazen attack on the Supreme Court in 1997 when PMLN goons physically attacked it and had one of the most respected Chief Justices removed.
Khan's arrest by the Pakistan Rangers at the IHC premises last Tuesday triggered unrest in Pakistan, resulting in several deaths and dozens of military and state installations being destroyed by the protesters. The protesters even stormed the army headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi and torched the corps commander's house in Lahore, marking the first time in the country's history. The police reported ten deaths in violent clashes, while Khan's party claimed that 40 of its workers lost their lives in the firing by security personnel.
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