Imran sent on judicial remand in Toshakhana case

PTI denounces case as 'facade of political vendetta', laments ECP's 'failure' to ensure fair electoral environment

RAWALPINDI:

An accountability court on Saturday rejected the National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) request for an extended physical remand of former prime minister Imran Khan in the Toshakhana.

The court, rejecting the bureau’s plea for further physical remand, declared a 21-day judicial remand for the former PTI chairman. The hearing has been adjourned until January 6.

Talking to journalists after the hearing, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan vehemently denounced the case as a facade of political vendetta, lamenting the Election Commission of Pakistan's (ECP) failure to ensure a fair electoral environment despite promising a level playing field after issuing the election schedule.

Khan expressed grave concerns over the mounting cases against Imran Khan's family, accusing authorities of employing tactics to coerce compromises.

Commenting on the party’s concerns about the impartiality of returning officers (ROs), the PTI chief said, "We urge you to guarantee that the ROs oversee elections with fairness. We want the Supreme Court to ensure that ROs are sourced from the judiciary”.

Referring to the upcoming elections, Khan highlighted the party's persistence in participating despite adversities, saying “Our groundwork for this is thoroughly done and prepared”.

"We're ready to claim a two-thirds majority if a level playing field is ensured," he asserted and added that the PTI would not boycott elections but intended to contest with their election symbol.

About the frequent detainment of PTI workers and purported limitations imposed on its conventions and symbols, Khan demanded equitable treatment in the electoral process as “citizens have the right to choose their representatives”.

Speaking to the media outside the jail, Aleema Khan welcomed Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Qazi Faez Isa’s decision to intervene to suspend the LHC’s ruling, which could potentially have delayed the elections set for Feb 8.

Read LHC issues notices on Imran's pleas against disqualification, party polls

"I am pleased that the chief justice presided over the court proceedings even late into the night to take up the case."

However, she raised concerns about the CJP’s absence due to leave, asking “Who will attend to our appeals? It would be beneficial if the CJP would also heed the pleas of incarcerated women who endure brutality and injustice behind bars”.

Addressing the media on the occasion, PTI’s Shoaib Shaheen emphasised that their party has been the sole advocate for elections over the past two years.

He alleged that the initial date of April 30 was changed to October 8 allegedly by “the powerful people and the PDM”.

Shaheen reminded that the date of February 8 for elections was also secured due to PTI’s petition. “Later, a drama was orchestrated against us on May 9.”

Expressing the party’s misgivings on the appointment of returning officers, he stressed appointing only upright individuals from the judiciary, alleging that "lies" were presented in the SC on Friday.

He clarified, "The DC and IG of Islamabad haven’t been changed; they've been assigned as returning officers too."
He added that we demand for elections to be conducted promptly and with utmost fairness.