Pakistan

Imran blames economic woes on pervasive 'injustice'

PTI chief points fingers at discrimination against Azam Swati as Suleman Shehbaz returns to Pakistan

Newsdesk December 11, 2022

PTI Chairman Imran Khan addressing K-P lawmakers through a video link from his Zaman Park residence in Lahore on Saturday. SCREENGRAB

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief and former premier Imran Khan on Sunday blamed the blatant “injustice” in the country for the economy being in shambles.

Taking to Twitter, the PTI chairman said that “if anyone wants to understand why Pakistan’s economy is a disaster, just two incidents provide the answer”.

Read Swati’s son moves court against cases on father

He then went on to criticise the government for subjecting 75-year-old PTI Senator Azam Swati to “custodial torture”, “vandalising” his home, and “dragging him from one province to another under multiple false FIRs” while Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s son Suleman Shehbaz – an “absconder” was allowed to return to Pakistan.

If anyone wants to understand why Pakistan's economy is now a disaster, just 2 incidents provide the answer. 75 year old Senator Azam Swati has been subjected to custodial torture, beaten up in front of his grandchildren, his house vandalised & sealed, & he is being dragged from
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) December 11, 2022

one prov to another under multiple false FIRs against him in total violation of all laws & basic human rights enshrined in our Constitution. In contrast an absconder responsible for billions in corruption & money laundering, Salman Shahbaz, is drycleaned & returns to Pak.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) December 11, 2022

Imran claimed that it was this contrast in the treatment of the two that showed the "injustice" that prevails in the country and asserted that such "injustice destroys nations".

Everyone should remember this Hadith wherein our beloved Prophet Muhammad PBUH warned how injustice destroys nations. pic.twitter.com/Q8D3YLq6SD
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) December 11, 2022

It may be noted here Suleman returned to Pakistan after spending the past four years in self-imposed exile after the Islamabad High Court (IHC) barred agencies from arresting him upon arrival.

He had gone abroad in October 2018, after which a case of alleged money laundering was filed against him. Suleman then continued to live in the United Kingdom in self-imposed exile.

On December 8, he approached the IHC through his lawyer, requesting to return to the country and surrender before the court to end his exile.

The court approved his request and stopped the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and other agencies from arresting him till December 13.

Later, Suleman, arrived in Pakistan late last night.

On the other hand, over a week ago, Senator Swati had been taken into custody for the second time after a raid at his farmhouse in Chak Shahzad, Islamabad, by the FIA's Cyber Crime Wing for allegedly tweeting against senior military officials.

On December 1, a district and sessions court sent the senator to jail on a 14-day judicial remand in the case after which he was transferred from Islamabad airport to Balochistan where he was ultimately taken to Kuchlak.

The Balochistan High Court (BHC) on Friday had, however, ordered to quash all cases registered against Senator Azam Swati across the province and also ordered his release.

The BHC had earlier barred the police from registering any more first information reports (FIRs) against Swati over his controversial tweets and speeches.