Imran urges CJ to 'uphold rule of law'

Former prime minister Imran Khan has urged the chief Justice of Pakistan, Yahya Afridi, to uphold the rule of law, Imran's sister Aleema Khan told reporters after meeting with the PTI founder at Rawalpindi's Adiala Jail on Monday.

"Imran Khan has asked the chief justice to decide whether he wants to uphold the rule of law," Aleema said, adding that her brother says he will "face his cases in the courts of the very same judges and that he will not strike a secret deal [to get any relief]."

Imran Khan, who has been incarcerated since August 2023, wrote a letter to Chief Justice Yahya Afridi as well as head of the Constitutional Bench of the Supreme Court, Justice Aminuddin Khan, on January 30.

In the 349-page epistle, the former PM addressed issues related to human rights violations, alleged electoral fraud, and the arrests of PTI workers particularly around November 26, 2024.

Imran Khan stated that between November 24 and 27 last year, a large number of PTI workers were arrested. He also alleged that hospital records were sealed and later altered to manipulate facts about a government crackdown on a PTI rally.

He criticised the judiciary for failing to provide justice despite repeated petitions against election fraud and ongoing human rights violations over the past 18 months.

Later, the PTI founder also dispatched two letters to the army chief, General Syed Asim Munir.

Talking with reference to the letters, Aleema Khan quoted Imran as saying that they should not be construed as an attempt to strike a deal with the establishment.

"He said that the letters to the army chief were not for a deal but to convey a message, as the gap between the military and the public is widening.

"He said the nation and the army must unite against terrorism. The PTI founder also stated that he would be writing another letter next week," she said.