PTI demands release of report on ‘71 debacle

ISLAMABAD:

Amid fervent explanations on a social media post about the Hamoodur Rahman Commission (HRC) Report and just a day after PTI founder Imran Khan’s first virtual interaction with Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJ) Qazi Faez Isa, PTI core committee on Friday demanded unveiling of the HRC report about Fall of Dhaka and the CJ’s recusal from all cases pertaining to the PTI and its founder

The party’s elite committee also revealed that Imran Khan was planning to soon give a call for nationwide peaceful protest over alleged rigging in February 8 general elections among other things and directed the party office bearers and organizations to complete preparations in this regard.

Interestingly, on Thursday, Imran had told CJ Isa via video link from Adiala Jail that February 8 polls were the “biggest robbery” of public mandate while complaining that a military officer was supervising jail affairs, and he was having difficulty in getting access to his legal team.

A few days back a post was shared on Imran’s official X — formerly Twitter — account stating that “every Pakistani should study the Hamoodur Rahman Commission report and get to know who was the true traitor: General Yahya Khan or Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.”

Sensing the sensitivity surrounding the subject, the PTI leadership had later started giving explanations with PTI incumbent Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan saying that Imran did not see text of all the posts.

Reportedly, Gohar had defended the post but said it was taken out of context and that the PTI drew a comparison of today’s situation with 1971 in a political context and not otherwise, emphasizing that it had nothing about the army.

However, on Friday, the PTI core committee noted that “in order to save Pakistan from serious internal challenges of 1971 style, to learn from history and to inform the public about the facts the Hamoodur Rehman Commission report be released immediately.”

The party dismissed the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) investigation into the post and the registration of any possible new case against Imran on the basis of the tweet.

In the meeting, the statement said, the party leadership reviewed the release of a short documentary film containing the contents of the HRC report on social media from Imran’s account from various aspects.

The party reiterated that it stands by its principled stance that the national affairs, especially political affairs, should be conducted within the framework of the Constitution and law, saying the responsibilities of national defense should be performed within the constitutional limits of the Pakistan Armed Forces.

The party said the decision makers should learn from history and remain within the constitutional limits.

The PTI also demanded that the CJ should no longer hear cases of party and its chairman.

“In view of the obvious conflict of interest, the hearing of our cases by Chief Justice Qazi Faiz Isa adversely affects the fundamental right to a fair trial,” the statement read.

It said the PTI founding chairman intended to give a call for nationwide peaceful protest soon, saying all arrangements should be completed without any delay.

“Whenever Founder Chairman Imran Khan will call his nation for a nationwide protest, every worker of Tehreek [PTI] will come out in the field,” read the statement.

Meanwhile, the committee also discussed the content of the declaration of the 83rd Formation Commanders Conference.  It said that PTI seconds the formation commanders’ point that all those responsible for May 9 riots prosecuted.

It said the PTI was the target of May 9 false-flag operation from the day first and had been demanding a high-level judicial inquiry into the arson, vandalism and killing of innocent civilians.

In the statement, the committee once again asked who ordered the violent, humiliating and completely “illegal arrest” of Imran from the premises of Islamabad High Court on May 9, 2023.

It further raised question as to where were the CCTV footages of May 9, including those of the arrest of the PTI founding chairman, and on whose orders were they removed.

The participants stated that Imran Khan's acquittal in around half a dozen false, fabricated and concocted cases related to May 9 due to government's failure to present evidence, were sufficient and enough to expose the false accusations leveled against him and his party.

The committee said the decisions made on the bases on objectivity and facts were indispensable for the strength of institutions. It said deviation from the Constitution, disregard for law and justice, desecration of democracy, fundamental rights and the right to vote of the people and political revenge were the main contributors to the prevailing anxiety in the country and reaction among the people.

In order to bridge the gap between the people and the state institutions, the state and its institutions must recognize the authority of the people, respect their fundamental rights, and eliminate dependence on distorted narratives, by making the people’s will the basis of national decision-making, it said.