Imran writes to CJP expressing concerns

ISLAMABAD:

PTI Chairman and former premier Imran Khan on Sunday wrote a letter to the chief justice of Pakistan (CJP), seeking video link facility for all his court appearances, citing security threats.

“Ever since the removal of my government through a regime change operation, I have been confronted with questionable FIRs, threats and finally an assassination attempt,” he wrote.

He continued that despite being a former prime minister, he had not been provided with proper security and the FIR on his assassination attempt was not allowed to be registered by him.

“I have and continue to maintain that the present PM, Interior Minister and a senior intelligence agency officer were involved in the failed assassination plot,” he claimed.

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 “Subsequent actions including attempts to destroy the JIT [joint investigation team] report on my assassination lend further credence to my view as to my assassination plotters,” he added.

The PTI chief maintained that there were also clear indications of another assassination attempt being plotted on his life.

“To date there are 74 cases against me and I am being made to appear in court for hearing time and often,” he informed the CJP.

“I am [the] chairman of the largest political party in the country and wherever I go massive crowds naturally follow. This further aggravates the prevailing security threat,” he claimed.

He noted that the right to life was a fundamental one under the Constitution.

He added that he faced a “grave threat" to his life.

He claimed that in his last appearance before the Lahore High Court, there was a total failure of official security.

“The same happened in Islamabad when I had to appear before different courts,” he added.

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He maintained that it was now “abundantly clear” that neither the State nor the government had any intention of providing him with adequate foolproof security for his court appearances.

“I am requesting your Honourable self to take action on this threat being faced by me from those in power. One of my assassins, Naveed, has been allowed video link facilities for his court appearances while myself, the target of the assassination, am being denied the same,” he continued.

Imran requested the CJP to take notice and ensure that adequate security arrangements be made if his court appearance was necessary under the prevailing “threats” and possible “assassination plots”.

He pointed out that there were precedents that in case of security threat, [the] video link facility for [court] appearance was provided.

“In view of severe threats to my life, I may be provided [the] video link facility for court appearances,” the PTI chief requested the CJP.

He added that this would also prevent the massive crowds coming out spontaneously to show support whenever he had to make a court appearance.