‘Sana’s cover-up won’t hide govt’s dark face’

LAHORE:

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Sunday hit out at Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah’s late Saturday night news conference and said the cover-up was intended to hide the government’s dark face and the worst form of torture and harassment of women prisons at the hands “this fascist government”.

“The interior minister’s news conference has left no doubt that the PTI women workers have been subjected to inhumane treatment in jail,” the former prime minister said while addressing the nation through a video link from his residence at Zaman Park.

Imran urged the country's top judiciary to take suo motu notice of the alleged abuse, including "reports of rape", of its women party workers and supporters who were arrested following the May 9 riots.

The interior minister in his presser claimed that intelligence agencies had intercepted a conversation indicating that the PTI was planning two separate actions, which he termed "dramas".

Without offering further details, the minister said the intercept revealed the PTI was planning some action at a specific residence, without offering any further details.

He also claimed the intercepted conversations indicated that a “rape act” would be committed and blamed on law enforcers. “It was thought that perhaps this drama would be unfolded [tonight] so it was decided to inform the nation of these fiendish designs,” he claimed.

Reacting to the news conference, the former prime minister said Sanaullah was "so obviously trying to cover up and preempt the horror stories about to break in the media".

Read Rana Sanaullah lifts lid on ‘disturbing’ PTI plot

"If there were any doubts about women being mistreated in jails, this press conference from this certified criminal should remove all such doubts," he wrote on Twitter.

“We are also getting distressing reports of rape in the confines of detention,” the PTI chairman claimed.

Imran, expressing his deep concerns, suggested that a truly unsavory incident has occurred. The government, he emphasised, was apprehensive about the potential backlash that would inevitably follow once the incarcerated women were finally released.

Addressing the nation, the PTI chief highlighted that Pakistani women have never met such mistreatment in the country’s history which we were witnessing today. “It is almost a year since May 25 when a large number of PTI leaders and workers were roughed up by law enforcing agencies, the government has been violating the sanctity of 'chadar and char dewari' — a metaphor used to show women's dignity and one's protection inside the four walls of the house.

He pointed out that the PTI leaders, workers, common citizens, even women and children, were humiliated. “Their houses are being demolished. Businesses are being closed and all this is being happened to terrorise and create fear among masses.”

Imran underscored that the nation has given great sacrifices for democracy in the country and today an attempt is made to depoliticise half of the country’s women population. “An attempt is being made to take out 50% of the country’s population out of politics by resorting to torture and intimidation.

Read more Trying to cover up 'horror stories': Imran responds to Sana's claims

He highlighted that PTI is the first political party which attracted a large number of women and families in public rallies and promoted women inclusion in political process. “Unfortunately, attempt is being made to roll back this positive trend by creating fear among women which will be a great loss to the country.”

He added such tactics were witnessed during the dictatorial rule.

“Today, I, on behalf of the nation and Pakistan’s biggest party, appeal to the 15 judges of the Supreme Court that the entire country is looking towards you. History will remember your role,” the PTI chairman said.

“Till now it seems you are slowly conceding your power and losing your freedom against the powerful. It doesn’t seem to us you are capable of taking a stand against the powerful.”

The PTI chairman appealed to the Supreme Court for a judicial inquiry over the May 9 riots to determine who was responsible for the vandalism and burning.

“It is the job of the courts to carry out an investigation and find out the culprits. We will fully help you. I will tell you to punish those who were responsible.

“But side by side, 25 people were martyred by straight firing and hundreds were shot. Where in the world are peaceful protests shot at and then there is no investigation.”

Addressing the Pakistan Democratic Government (PDM), former prime minister asked the government to take two, three or four weeks for breaking as many PTI candidates as it wants and announce elections.

“I am not talking about myself but for the sake of the country which was facing unprecedented economic and political crisis. The government should not play with the country’s fate to keep me out of politics,” he said.

He also condemned police raids on Omar Ayub and Shahzad Akbar’s residences and demanded whereabouts of journalists Sami Ibrahim and Imran Riaz Khan.