Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan alleged on Monday that the country’s powerful military establishment intends to imprison him for the next ten years on sedition charges in accordance with the ‘London Plan’.
The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf head Imran Khan claimed in a series of tweets early Monday, “So now the complete London plan is out.” They assumed the roles of judge, jury, and executioner while I was inside the jail under the guise of violence. The objective now is to embarrass me by imprisoning Bushra Begum (Khan’s wife) and keeping me in prison for the next ten years under some sedition statute.”
The comments came after Khan hosted a meeting of PTI leaders at his residence in Lahore.
The 70-year-old leader, who has been on bail in more than 100 cases, further said: “To ensure that there is no public reaction, they have done two things — first deliberate terror is unleashed not just on PTI workers but on common citizens as well. Second, the media is totally controlled and muzzled.” He said never has the sanctity of chadar and chaar dewaari been violated the way it is being done by these “criminals”.
“This is a deliberate attempt to instill so much fear in people that when they come to arrest me tomorrow, people won’t come out. And tomorrow they will again suspend internet services and ban social media (which is only partially open). Meanwhile, as we speak, houses are being broken in and shamelessly police are manhandling the women of the houses,” he said.
Giving his message to the people of Pakistan, Khan said: “My message to the people of Pakistan; I will fight for Haqeeqi Azaadi till the last drop of my blood because for me death is preferable than to be enslaved by these assortments of crooks.
“I urge all my people to remember that we have pledged LA Illah ha illalah, that we bow to no one except the One (Allah). If we bow to the idol of fear there will only be humiliation and dismemberment for our future generations. Countries where there is injustice and law of jungle prevails, don’t survive for long.”
After locking himself in the premises of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) for hours out of fear of re-arrest despite being granted bail on Friday, Khan returned to his Lahore house on Saturday.
The IHC granted bail to Khan, preventing arrest in any instances filed against him after May 9, and instructed him to seek additional relief from the Lahore High Court on May 15.
Khan added that the JUI-F “drama” taking place outside the Supreme Court has only one goal: to intimidate the chief justice of Pakistan into not rendering a decision in accordance with the Constitution.
“Pakistan has already seen a such brazen attack on the Supreme Court when in 1997 PMLN goons physically attacked it and had one of the most respected Chief Justices Sajjad Ali Shah removed,” he said.
Khan’s arrest by the Pakistan Rangers at the IHC premises last Tuesday triggered unrest in Pakistan that continued till Friday and led to several deaths and dozens of military and state installations being destroyed by the protesters.
The demonstrators broke down the barricades for the first time in the nation’s history, entered the army headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi, and set fire to the home of the corps commander in Lahore.
Khan’s party claims 40 of its employees died as a result of security staff shootings, while the police placed the number of fatalities in the violent skirmishes at 10.
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