Imran accuses CJ of being ‘biased’ against PTI

PTI founder says no deal will be struck

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, accusing Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa of being “biased” against his party, on Friday urged courts to expedite hearings of his cases.

“I urge all judges presiding over my cases to expedite the hearings and refrain from unjustified delays,” he said in a message from Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi. Saying that delaying the decisions was unjust, he insisted that all cases against him were “false, baseless, and concocted”.

Imran referred to Chief Justice Isa’s statement, saying, “He stated that there is no pressure on him, but pressure comes to those who refuse to indulge in wrongdoing. You are behaving like [the government’s] B-team against the PTI,” Imran claimed.

“You snatched electoral symbol from the PTI, denied a level-playing field, and violated our fundamental human rights in the guise of the May 9 incidents, on which our petition has been pending since May 25, 2023, without a hearing till today.”

The PTI founder stated that the PTI’s petitions against rigging during the general elections had not been heard yet, adding that the issue of allocation of the reserved seats for women to the party was also pending.

“The Supreme Court’s decisions have revived the doctrine of necessity once again. This is a historic opportunity for great nations to capitalise on historic moments,” Khan emphasised.

He criticised that decisions were being coerced through threats, which was dismantling the country’s judicial system. “The remarks of high court judges have proved that law of the jungle prevails in the country. It’s time for Supreme Court judges to stand up like high court judges and reject wrong decisions.”

Imran stated, “I am always ready for dialogue, but dialogue will happen only when our stolen mandate is returned, and our innocent workers imprisoned in jails are released.” He asserted that dialogue ws held with adversaries, and the PTI’s most formidable adversaries were the ones with whom dialogue will be initiated.

The former prime minister said that he had written a letter to The Telegraph, in which he explained that not only his life was in danger but also his wife’s.

The PTI founder said that he had proposed three names for talks but not for any deal, adding that that no retired officers had been given the task of negotiations.

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“The deal is struck to avoid jail, like [President Asif] Zardari and [former prime minister] Nawaz Sharif did and went out,” he said. “I have been saying for 18 months that we are ready for talks. There is always talk in politics. We will talk to everyone, except three parties,” he added, without elaborating.

Imran criticised NAB, saying that it was bringing a new Toshakhana case. He requested the judges to decide the PTI’s cases at the earliest. “The hearing of the cipher case is going on and on. While drama was being staged in the Iddat case,” he charged.

Responding to a question about the health of Bushra Bibi, Imran said that in fact none of her medical tests came back negative. “What will happen when the tests are conducted after three months? Bushra Bibi's health is still not well,” he said.