Imran asks judiciary why courts opened at midnight

Former premier says the nation is at a decisive point to either choose slavery or freedom

PESHAWAR:

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf Chairman Imran Khan on Wednesday asked the judiciary to explain the rationale behind its decision to throw open its doors in the dead of night when the fate of a no-trust resolution against him hung in the balance.

Addressing a massive charged crowd in Peshawar late Wednesday night, the PTI chief directly addressed the judiciary about the way the eventful Saturday night played out.

“What crime did I commit that you opened the courts at night? Judges tell me,” Mr Khan demanded, adding he never instigated people against institutions or the judiciary, adding that he expected the “judiciary to stand with the weak”.

“I ask judges… Wasn’t it written in the diplomatic cable that all will be forgiven if Imran is removed from power?”

The former prime minister’s questioning of the judiciary’s decision constituted his first statement after his ouster in a public rally, marking a departure from his earlier stance that he wouldn't question the courts and accept their rulings, albeit with disappointment.

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Denouncing the incumbent regime as an “imported government imposed by foreign powers”, former premier and PTI chairman Imran Khan vowed to galvanise people to turn out on the streets and carry out protests, stressing that he would “force” the existing setup to announce next general elections.

Imran said the norm was that whenever a government was ousted in the past people would distribute sweets, noting that in his case, the masses had come out in his favour.

‘Nation rejected imported government’

Speaking about the countrywide protests held on Sunday by the PTI supporters, he thanked the people for coming out in large numbers.

“Nation has rejected the ‘imported government’. Today is the day to decide whether we want slavery or liberty,” he said.

“Do we want to be the slaves of the slaves of America or want freedom?” he asked. “We do not accept any ‘shameless government’”.

The PTI chief noted that those who belonged to the imported government were on bail. “(Prime Minister) Shehbaz [Sharif], his sons; PML-N supremo Nawaz [Sharif], his sons and daughter are all on bail.”

He said the US had insulted the nation by “imposing dacoits” on the country.

“I will pull people out on the streets. I am coming to Karachi on Saturday and Lahore on Thursday,” the former PM said.

“Shahbaz has corruption cases worth Rs40 billion. Will we accept him as our premier?”

Also read: US, India call on Pakistan to take ‘irreversible action’ against terrorism

 

‘Not the 70s anymore’

Referring to former premier Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, Imran observed that today was “not the Pakistan of 1970s” when an elected prime minister was removed from power and sentenced to death.

“Today is the ‘New Pakistan’ of well-informed people [who use] social media. [Now] Sixty million people use mobile phones in Pakistan.  Their voice cannot be muzzled.”

He warned PM Shehbaz of “launching a crackdown against social media”, saying the “day we take action you will not be able to find a spot to hide”.

Lashing out at the PPP and PML-N regimes, Imran said 400 drone strikes were carried out from 2008 to 2018 but neither “(PPP Co-chairman) Zardari nor ‘coward’, ‘absconder’ Nawaz say a word because their money is stashed abroad”.

“Is the nuclear programme safe in the hands of these dacoits?”

He said “today is the decisive moment” and urged the people to come out against the incumbent regime.
“We will come out on the streets and protest in every city and force the government to announce elections. Will we not let this conspiracy (of threat letter) succeed or our generations will not forgive us.”

Deliberating on a recent statement of PM Shehbaz that “beggars are not choosers”, Imran hit out at the premier saying “he was a beggar and slave” and the one who “polished boots”.

He said former military ruler Pervez Musharraf made a mistake by giving Nawaz an NRO (relief in corruption cases).

Also read: PM Imran says 'not anti-American', wants relations based on mutual respect

“Nawaz, if you think you will return after [seeking] NRO 2, don’t be mistaken. Imran and the nation is waiting for you.”

He said the people of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa sacrificed the most during the war on terror as they lost their lives; their houses were damaged and had been displaced.

Imran emphasised that he would never let his nation be “used or sacrificed” for the benefit of others.  “I will never push my nation to war whether I am in power or opposition.” He said the “real war of independence begins today”.

Calling Maulana Fazlur Rehman “diesel”, Imran said the JUI-F chief had been “selling Islam for the last 30 years”.

The PTI chief said he was “honoured” that he got the resolution against Islamophobia approved in the United Nations General Assembly.