LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan has appealed to Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Atta Bandyal to understand the “sensitivity” and “seriousness” of his stand regarding the threats to his life.
In a letter, he submitted that he is requesting the court to allow him to join the court proceedings through video link due to the threat to his life. Referring to the recent police raid at his Zaman Park home when his wife Bushra Bibi and only a few servants were present, Imran said the door of his house was broken and the sanctity of the boundary wall violated. Calling it an attack against Islamic teachings, he appealed to the Chief Justice to take notice of the incident and order a detailed investigation. “In view of the threats to my life and the attack on my house, I would request you to order an inquiry into the incidents,” he added.
The former prime minister also told the chief justice that when he reached Islamabad with his convoy via the judicial complex, ‘we were trapped in containers all around to block my way to the judicial complex. My lawyers were not allowed to enter the complex but about 20 “Namlum” (unknown) people were allowed inside. This was clearly done to allow them to kill me.
Earlier, Imran Khan said that an attempt was made to label his workers as Taliban and terrorists. He said that the person who has been shown as a terrorist is present in Dir. He said that the country’s security forces are also being instigated against his party. He also accused the government of creating hurdles in the environment even as the date of general elections is approaching.
Addressing party workers via video link from his Zaman Park residence, he said the authorities were reluctant to allow them to hold a rally at Minar Pakistan. Criticizing PMLN Senior Vice President Maryam Nawaz, Imran Khan said that the ‘queen of liars’ thinks that Pakistan is her fiefdom.
He alleged that there was a plan to kill him in the judicial complex. “We are collecting evidence and it will be sent to the United Nations Human Rights Council and the European Union,” he added. He also accused the Pakistan Democratic Movement of bringing the army and PTI face to face to postpone the elections. This is my country and my army. I will live and die here. I will not run abroad,” he added.
Meanwhile, he said he would soon tell the nation how the plot to kill him at the judicial complex was hatched. In another development, the Lahore High Court observed that if PTI Chairman Imran Khan wants relief from the court, he will have to ensure his presence on Tuesday. This observation was made by a division bench headed by Justice Syed Shahbaz Ali Rizvi, while hearing Imran’s protective bail pleas in two recent FIRs filed against him under various charges including the Anti-Terrorism Act.
The court directed them to appear in the court at 2:15 PM. He also cautioned that the “applicant is on his way” argument would not be accepted. As the hearing began on Monday, the court asked Imran’s counsel to verify his signatures, saying the signatures appeared to be scanned. On which the counsel accepted that the signatures had been scanned. He argued that two FIRs had been registered against Imran and others when they had reached Islamabad to attend the proceedings of a separate case. On which Justice Rizvi inquired whether Imran is present? The lawyer replied that he was not present but would appear in court on March 21 and that the application be adjourned. The court directed the lawyer to produce his client at 2:15 pm on Tuesday.
