Qureshi demands access to Imran

Former FM to chair committee of party leaders today

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Vice Chairperson Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Wednesday demanded access, for PTI lawyers and himself, to meet party chief Imran Khan following his arrest a day earlier in the Qadir Trust case.

Addressing the media in Islamabad, he requested that the government to provide access to the former premier as it was their “fundamental, political and legal right” to do so.

پی ٹی آئی وائس چیئرمین مخدوم شاہ محمود قریشی اور سیکریٹری جنرل اسد عمر کی میڈیا سے گفتگو۔ #ReleaseImranKhan pic.twitter.com/IRAUR6HpAP

— PTI (@PTIofficial) May 10, 2023

Qureshi maintained that the manner in which Imran was arrested, with baton strikes to his head and on his injured leg, was “inhumane”. He added that the incumbent government had "shoved" the nation into “political instability” and an “unconstitutional crisis”.

The party's vice-chair maintained that the government was disobeying the law by arresting Imran as the verdict by CJP Bandial was 'out in the open'.

“They are trying to pit the parliament against the judiciary and are causing a greater divide,” the former foreign minister alleged, adding that efforts to create further divisions were underway.

Why is @ImranKhanPTI not being allowed legal representation?

Why are his lawyers and senior leadership not being allowed to meet him?

Why has a police line house been converted into a temporary court.

Why are you hiding Imran Khan?#ReleaseImranKhan

— Shah Mahmood Qureshi (@SMQureshiPTI) May 10, 2023

Referring to the protest that followed Imran's arrest, Qureshi said peaceful protests are the constitutional right of the people. He urged the nation to “continue” their protests, but warned supporters to “not take the law” into their own hands as the government “was looking for ways to incriminate and oppress them”.

“When they saw the most popular leader of the country being dragged from the court, you saw the reaction. From Karachi to Khyber, people are protesting and they will continue to protest, as it is their legal and constitutional right. However, I have asked them to remain peaceful, to not get into people’s houses and not destroy public or private property,” he said.

Read PTI anger spills into streets after Imran's arrest

He elaborated that there was a raid at his Multan residence, during which his staff was “beaten” and “nine” of his people were arrested, with “doors broken down”. Qureshi questioned the tactics of the authorities and what “message” they were trying to give.

“We continue to stand with Imran Khan,” he said, adding that he was proud of his own daughters for attending protests in Karachi despite their mother being in the hospital. He added that he was “proud” of PTI workers and women who attended protests.

Committee to convene

Qureshi stated that under his chairmanship a committee of seven senior PTI leaders – created by Imran Khan – would convene at the party’s central office at 2 pm.

The vice-chair further added that he was in contact with Hassan Niazi, Ali Amin Gandapur, Saifullah Khan Niazi, Murad Saeed and Ijaz Chaudhry, and urged the leaders to be present for the meeting.

The former minister said that he would try for the committee or PTI lawyers to “meet Imran Khan” so that the situation can be tackled in a proper and knowledgeable manner.

Responding to a reporter’s question, Qureshi said that the government was not “deserving” of continuing dialogue with the PTI regarding electoral dates.

When asked if the party would go to elections without Imran in the running, he said, “Imran Khan is ruling more than half of the people of Pakistan".

“Imran Khan, whether in jail or not, will continue to haunt them. Imran Khan is unstoppable,” he said.

The PTI leader condemned the ban on media activities and urged media personnel to show the people “the truth” of the matter, adding that the nation would then make its own decision.

In a question posed to Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, he asked if this is how democracies function.