Demand access to PTI founder; condemns police action against party leaders, workers and family members of Imran
ISLAMABAD:
An alliance of opposition parties, the Tehreek Tahaffuz Ain-e-Pakistan (TTAP), will hold a consultative conference in Islamabad on December 20 and 21 to discuss the political climate, constitutional issues and restrictions imposed on visitors to meet jailed PTI founder Imran Khan.
Opposition parties, bar associations and human rights organizations will be invited to the conference.
The TTAP leaders made this announcement after an emergency meeting of the alliance was called in the wake of police action against PTI leaders, workers and family members of Imran Khan outside Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi in the early hours of Wednesday.
Authorities allegedly used water cannon to disperse protesters, including Imran Khan’s sisters, who were staging a sit-in outside Adiala Jail after they were denied a meeting with the former prime minister.
In a post on
“This brutal crackdown on a peaceful sit-in violates basic human rights and freedom of assembly in freezing weather!” He also shared a video of a water cannon being used as people, bundled up against the cold, fled the scene.
The meeting, chaired by TTAP chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai, condemned the police action, calling it a violation of court orders on visitation rights. He demanded that the government restore access to Imran Khan’s meetings before talks could continue.
Later, at a joint press conference, Achakzai said the way the government treated PTI leaders, supporters and Imran’s family members showed that the Constitution no longer works.
He said if the government intended to hold a dialogue with the opposition, it must first restore access to the PTI founder. “When public anger erupts, nothing is under control,” he warned.
PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan said the PTI remained in parliament despite problems with the electoral mandate, but threats and confrontation had increased.
PTI president Barrister Gohar reiterated his party’s accusations that “his mandate had been stolen” in the last general elections.
“At that time we did not organize any sit-ins […] “We sit in parliament believing that our voices will be heard and that a solution will be found to our difficulties and those of the people,” he said, adding that there have been multiple clashes over the past two years.
But, he continued, “at some point, common sense should prevail.”
Apparently referring to the ban on meeting imprisoned PTI founder Imran Khan, he added: “If parents are kept in jail, […] How can the children sit with you? And if you don’t understand this, the public will probably make you understand.”
He again stressed that the use of force would not yield any results. “Common sense must prevail.”
Without naming anyone, he said: “If you want to create distance between [Imran] Khan and the people, this is not possible.” In this regard, he also stated that Imran had the support of at least 70 percent of the country’s population.
“Do not anger the people of Pakistan,” he warned, adding that “we have not done anything that violates the Constitution.”
He stressed that meetings with Imran should be allowed, pointing out that the top court had also issued an order directing that meetings with the former prime minister be allowed.
“If you create obstacles [in this regard]so we don’t know what your intentions are. But if you get a response from the other side, the country and democracy would suffer a loss,” he warned, adding that if the government did not want the PTI to sit in Parliament.
He also spoke to the media earlier in the day, objecting to the resolution passed by the Punjab Assembly on Tuesday.
The government, he said, was trying to “pit the federated units against each other.”
“They are isolating a major political party. Does removing it from due process save democracy?” asked the PTI president.
He criticized the suspension of meetings with Imran based on PTI’s social media posts, questioning why people were not allowed to meet even Imran’s wife Bushra Bibi, who is also detained at the same centre.
PTI’s Asad Qaiser said the incident showed that there is no government in the country and only fascism reigns. He demanded a judicial inquiry into the Adiala incident.
PTI’s Aamir Dogar also condemned the police action, alleging that they used water laced with chemicals against the PTI legislators. He said a privilege motion would be tabled in parliament. Junaid Akbar Khan also spoke on the occasion and questioned the justification of restricting visitors through social media posts.
The PTI, he said, had also been deprived of electoral symbols and reserved seats and such oppressive measures were increasing public resentment and damaging institutional credibility.
Earlier, a PTI statement termed the incident as “state-backed violence” and alleged that peaceful supporters, including women, were attacked with excessive force.
The party claimed that media crews were forced to retreat to prevent coverage and that several workers suffered injuries. Earlier, speaking outside Parliament, PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan warned that the current restrictions could increase tensions.
