Fawad seeks an end to ‘threatening calls’

Says Imran’s pilots flying him to his rallies were receiving them

ISLAMABAD:

PTI leader and Fawad Chaudhry on Thursday sought an end to “threatening calls” from “unknown numbers” saying chief of the army staff (COAS) and the DG ISI had assured that their institutions would not get involved in any political activity.

Addressing a news conference in the federal capital, Fawad alleged that "calls from unknown numbers are made by two institutions".

He said PTI Chairman and former premier Imran Khan’s pilots flying him to his rallies were receiving calls from "unknown numbers".

During the presser, he played a clip of an alleged call from an “unknown number” and termed the incident “unfortunate”.

In the clip, a male voice could be heard telling the receiver of the call to delete what was presumably a post on the social media. "You will be picked up by 5pm tomorrow," the unknown caller said.

The PTI leader urged the authorities concerned to investigate the matter.

He said there were only two big [security] agencies in the country, adding that the COAS and the DG ISI had recently issued orders to their institutions to stay away from any activity involving politics.

He also urged the Intelligence Bureau (IB) chief to look into the matter.

"I am hopeful these directives will be implemented. If people from IB are doing this then I would urge their head to look at their institution."

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Earlier, this week the country’s spymaster had issued strict orders to his commanders from top to the lowest tier and other officials to stay away from any activity involving politics and politicians following policy directives from the COAS.

The spy chief personally issued the instructions to his subordinates, sources told The Express Tribune. “They have been told in the strictest terms to stay away from politics and avoid any such activity,” the sources added.

The former information minister said that calls from unknown numbers should stop, adding, “if you think you can rule over Pakistan on the basis of power, this does not happen here. There will be retaliation, the people will stand up".

He stressed that holding early elections was the only way to rid the country of political chaos.

Earlier in the day, PTI leader Asad Umar claimed that the pilot flying Imran to his rallies was receiving phone calls and "being given threats".

“Pilot flying @ImranKhanPTI for the jalsas getting phone calls and being given threats. How low will they sink!!!” Umar tweeted

PTI's Shahbaz Gill also made similar claims. "The pilot of the plane of Imran's rallies is receiving threatening calls from unknown numbers. It seems that, in your eyes, there is no limit to the use of force," he said without elaborating further.

"If Imran's plane is damaged on the ground or in the air, then the nation should remember who is doing all this."