Imran’s indictment ‘death knell to legal system’: PTI

Express concerns over ‘pervasive lawlessness eroding foundations of state’

LAHORE:

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has vehemently rejected the indictment of PTI Chairman Imran Khan and Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi, denouncing it as "a fatal blow to justice and the legal system".

In a strongly worded reaction on Monday, a party spokesperson expressed deep dismay, condemning what he described as the ruthless dismantling of justice in Pakistan, an alarming trend that has been persisting.

The spokesperson underscored grave concerns over the upholding of constitutional supremacy, the rule of law, and the safeguarding of the rights of citizens, particularly those affiliated with PTI.

Lamenting what he called the “judiciary's failure to deliver fair justice to the nation”, the spokesperson warned that the pervasive lawlessness was rampant and eroding the very foundations of the state.

The spokesperson emphasised the paralysis of the entire system and highlighted that the state has lost its vision over the past eighteen months, followed by a decline in its intellectual capacities, leaving the justice system in shambles and the entire existence of the state in a state of paralysis.

Moreover, he accused a group of compromised journalists, including figures such as Kamran Shahid, Adil Shahzeb, and Muneeb Farooq, of aiding the dysfunctional state machinery in masking its wrongful decisions and undemocratic actions under the guise of journalism.

According to the spokesperson, the perpetrators who have undermined the integrity of the state are slipping through the cracks, leading the country and its democratic values down the path of total ruin.

Referring to the cipher case, he dismissed it as one among over 200 spurious and concocted cases against PTI Chairman Imran Khan, asserting that the state lacks the capacity to conduct judicial proceedings based on the rule of law in the face of such baseless accusations.

Meanwhile, PTI Secretary General Omar Ayub Khan addressed a letter to the President of Pakistan, Dr Arif Alvi, calling attention to gross violations of fundamental public rights.

In the letter, he highlighted concerns over enforced disappearances for political purposes, the uneven playing field during elections, crackdowns on media and social media activists, and the mistreatment of women detainees without proper legal procedures.

PTI secretary general stressed that the issue of enforced disappearances has plagued Pakistan for decades, tarnishing its reputation internationally, and expressed regret that it is increasingly being used as a political tool to silence dissenting voices.

Moreover, he pointed out the perception of selective and opaque administration of justice, which undermines the principles of fair trial and due process enshrined in the constitution.

He also raised concerns about the unequal treatment of political parties and leaders, leading to an unfair electoral environment, and urged the president to intervene and urge state institutions to address these grave issues promptly in order to uphold democracy, the constitution, and human rights in the country.