Imran asks PTI negotiation committee to halt talks citing arrest of workers

“Musharraf’s dictatorship was better than Nawaz Sharif’s democracy,” says PTI chief.

ISLAMABAD: Lamenting the arrest of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) supporters, party chief Imran Khan said he would ask his vice-chairman and head of PTI’s negotiation committee to discontinue talks with the government till they are released.

Addressing his supporters at D-Chowk on Friday evening, Imran claimed that he, along with Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and late Qazi Hussain Ahmed of Jamaat-e-Islami, were the first to raise their voice when former Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry was removed, adding that he is proud of the fact that his party was on fore front of the movement.

Imran said that PTI was the party that was ideologically behind the movement for independent judiciary.

“On November 3, when Musharraf imposed emergency, he put all the politicians under house but sent me to DG Khan jail for eight days for supporting independent judiciary,” said PTI chief, adding that he was not protesting to remove Musharraf from power, but he believed that only an independent judiciary can save people from state terrorism.

"In 2013, when for the first time in the history of Pakistan, elections were held under an independent judiciary, we participated,” said Imran, adding that “Despite Dr Tahirul Qadri warning me that free and fair elections were not possible under the current set-up, I told Qadri that I do not trust Nawaz, Zardari or election commission, but I have faith in Iftikhar Chaudhry who had taken a stand against a dictator.”

“However, the CJ stabbed democracy in the back during the May 2013 elections, by shaking hands with Nawaz.”

Terming Chaudhry as ‘Mir Jaffer’ for democracy, the PTI chief added that whenever an independent and neutral investigation is e held, it would reveal how the former chief justice had sabotaged the elections in connivance with Nawaz.

“We were asking to open four constituencies, we were asked to go to tribunals but when tribunals gave verdict for recounting, high courts give stay orders,” lamented Imran. He claimed that once they had exhausted every legal recourse and were left disappointed, they were forced to come out onto the streets.

Taking a jab at prime minister, Imran said “I am not a by-product of army rule, I do not need army’s support.” Pointing at his supporters, Imran said, “they are my army.”

He also brushed aside reports that his supporters were paid or were sitting there due to support from army. To illustrate his point, he pointed out that a rally by former president Gen Pervez Musharraf drew a crowd less than half that was camping out with the PTI for nearly a month.

Hitting out government for use of force against peaceful protesters, he said even dictators like Musharraf did not committed such atrocities against protesters. “I want to ask judiciary under what law PTI supporters are detained?”

“Musharraf’s dictatorship was better than Nawaz Sharif’s democracy.”

The PTI chief claimed that a party supporter Gulbahar in Faisalabad was arrested died during detention when his appendix burst due to police excesses.

Referring to arrest of Dj Butt, Imran asked he only played songs at the protest. “Why has DJ Butt been arrested?”

PTI chief raised questions over the 800 containers put up around Islamabad, paralysing the city, and that these have not been removed despite an order by the Islamabad High Court. “Is the government above of law?”

He further alleged that pillion riding in capital had been imposed to stop PTI supporters from attending the sit-in on Saturday. Imran further claimed that PTI supporters who were coming from Peshawar to attend Saturday’s sit-in had been were arrested by the police.

Addressing the Chief Justice Supreme Court, Imran said, “This is the time to take suo moto notice [of illegal government actions], because if you will not protect peaceful protesters it will push the country towards a bloody revolution.”

Imran urged his supporters to come in groups, instead of moving individually since Gullu Butts’ of government would try to stop them.

We struggle for independent judiciary so common people would be protected from state terrorism, said PTI chief.

In a rare comment on his personal life, Imran also mentioned his separation with Jemima Khan. He said Jemima could not live in Pakistan, while he could not live in UK.

Referring to interior ministry’s notification that suicide bomber had infiltrated PAT and PTI sit-ins, the PTI chief said he is not afraid of the bombers.