Imran urges CJP to probe May 9 riots

RAWALPINDI:

Amid electoral controversies and May 9 riots aftermath, PTI founding chairman Imran Khan has urged Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa to consider the party’s petitions concerning the May 9 riots and the February 8 elections and form a judicial inquiry.

“Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa should order the retrieval of CCTV footage,” he demanded while speaking to journalists in Adiala Jail on Tuesday.He emphasized the imperative need for a judicial commission to thoroughly investigate the May 9 incidents and criticized the absence of any inquiry into the events.

Imran alleged that those responsible for tampering with CCTV footage must be held accountable.

Expressing dismay over the dissolution of a political party resulting from the crackdown following the May 9 events, he attributed it to what he termed the ‘London Plan’.”

“Just as Israel accuses Palestine of terrorism, we have been unjustly blamed for the May 9 incident,” he asserted.

Meanwhile, he hinted at addressing recent remarks made by US Assistant Secretary of State Donald Lu regarding the cypher with the American ambassador, should they cross paths.

Imran stated that if he were to meet the US envoy, he would directly raise the issue with him. He added that had Lu acknowledged the conspiracy for regime change, it would have had significant repercussions within the Biden administration.

“If I encounter the American ambassador, I will certainly discuss Donald Lu’s statement and the alleged involvement of the American embassy in Pakistan,” the former prime minister stated.

He recalled that during a National Security Committee (NSC) meeting, former Pakistani envoy to the US, Asad Majeed, had acknowledged receiving a warning from the US. He also expressed bewilderment as to how the cypher in question got misplaced as there are certain security protocols within the Prime Minister's Office.

The statement from Imran comes days after Donald Lu dismissed allegations levelled against him by Imran, which had been central to the ‘cablegate’ cypher controversy, as a “conspiracy theory, lie, and complete falsehood”.

Lu, the diplomat whose purported warning to former Pakistan Ambassador to the US Asad Majeed was detailed in a cypher sent to Islamabad, formed the basis of accusations by PTI’s founder regarding a US conspiracy to topple his government in 2022. Imran Khan is currently facing trial for mishandling the confidential document in question.

Nonetheless, Imran’s party has termed Lu’s statement as a validation of the former prime minister’s narrative.

Talking to journalists, Imran also lambasted what he perceived as a biased judicial system, pointing out that the cases involving Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz, and Asif Ali Zardari have been closed.

“Nawaz Sharif acquired a Mercedes car from Toshakhana for Rs600,0000. Zardari obtained three vehicles from Toshakhana, which is legally impermissible. Corrupt individuals are being acquitted...”
He lamented that injustice has become rampant and might outweigh what is right.

Addressing rumours of a potential 'forward bloc' within PTI in Punjab, Imran expressed ignorance but mentioned he would gather information from the parliamentary leader of Punjab during their upcoming meeting.

Read Experts not surprised by Imran's prediction about govt’s ouster in 6 months

'Threats to Imran's life'

Breaking her silence for the first time since the verdict in the Toshakhana reference, Bushra Bibi, the wife of PTI founding chairman Imran Khan, directed her criticism towards three individuals from the top military brass.

She issued a stern warning, stating that if any harm befell Imran Khan, they would be held responsible. Despite Imran Khan's attempts to intervene and restrain her, she addressed journalists at Adiala Jail.

Bushra Bibi disclosed that during the previous hearing, she consumed honey which she suspected was tampered with.

Throwing weight behind Bushra’s statements, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said that the onus of safeguarding Imran’s life lies with “powerful figures”.

He said that three specific individuals were named as there were genuine concerns about threats to the former prime minister’s safety.

Bushra Bibi's statement should be construed as reflective of the party's stance, he added.