The opposition leader in the National Assembly, Omar Ayub, accused the Government of preventing Pakistan Tehreek-E-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, to offer eid sentences, questioning how an Islamic State as Pakistan can deny its founding leader of the opportunity to perform this religious obligation.
Ayub made the comments after a group of PTI leaders, including himself, Shibli Faraz, the spokesman for the Niazullah Niazi party, Aliya Hamza and others, tried to meet Imran Khan in the Adiala jail on Thursday, said Express News.
The secretary of the party, Salman Akram Raja, had already presented the names of those who wanted to meet with Khan to the prison authorities. However, when the leaders reached jail around 4 PM, they were informed that the meeting was not allowed, despite a court order.
Speaking to the media outside the Adiala prison, Ayub expressed his frustration for the refusal, saying: “Despite a court order, we were not allowed to meet with the founder of PTI. These meetings are generally completed by the founder himself and shared with his lawyers.”
In addition, he said that Khan had denied contact with his children and sisters during the last two and a half months.
Ayub also accused the government of preventing Imran Khan from offering EID sentences, emphasizing that such actions were a serious violation of human rights and dignity. “How can we call this an Islamic State if the founder of PTI cannot pray in EID? This is the worst way of misfortune,” he said.
The PTI leader criticized the Government for repeatedly violating judicial orders, urging the judges to ensure that their decisions are applied. He added that if the Judiciary cannot keep their orders, the judges should resign.
Meanwhile, the opposition leader in the Senate, Shibli Faraz, also spoke, saying that the refusal to allow a second meeting with Imran Khan showed contempt for judicial decisions.
“When a country ignores judicial decisions, a country can no longer be called. The selective application of the law shows that the credibility of the Judiciary is eroding,” Faraz said.
Accusations of abuse against Imran Khan
PTI leader Aliya Hamza also spoke with the media, condemning the treatment of PTI. “It is shameful that our former prime minister is being treated in this way. He has been denied contact with his sisters, children and his wife. He is given obsolete food and access to newspapers and television is denied,” said Hamza.
In addition, he claimed that Khan was being punished for any criminal activity, but because he refused to bow before the establishment. “He prioritizes the nation’s interests over his,” he added.
Aliya also caught attention to disparity in the treatment between Khan and other political elites, who said, receive a preferential treatment. “The elite has its meetings with the Superintendent in private rooms, while our leader is even denied basic rights.”
When addressing the internal problems of the parties, Aliya said there was no conflict within PTI. “Hammad Azhar is like a brother for me. If we had a problem with Khan, we would discuss them openly,” he said. “Our struggle is for the liberation of the founder and for the greatest cause of justice and democracy.”
He stressed that PTI would continue to fight for the liberation of justice and Khan, emphasizing that the party would not retreat despite the ongoing political and legal challenges. “We will continue to fight for justice, and we will not stop until we see the liberation of our leader, since our fight is for a greater cause,” he concluded.
