By Special Correspondent
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chief Imran Khan has accused the ruling Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) alliance of arresting him again, claiming that they will use sedition law to keep him inside jail for the next ten years under the ‘London Plan’.
The former premier, who was released on bail last week after hours-long drama at the Islamabad High Court (IHC), further claimed that the Shehbaz Sharif-led PDM government also plans to humiliate him by putting his wife, Bushra Bibi behind bars.
In a series of tweets on Monday, Khan said, “So now the complete London plan is out. Using pretext of violence while I was inside the jail, they have assumed the role of judge, jury and executioner” as he assailed the ruling PDM alliance for their campaign against Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial.
The PTI chief was arrested by dozens of paramilitary troops (Rangers) last week from the IHC premises and handed over to the National Accountability Bureau after which his party workers resorted to protest and violence, attacking the government and military installations. Thousands of PTI workers have since then been arrested as the army reiterated its resolve to bring all those involved in May 9 violence to justice.
Later, the top court ordered Khan’s release, describing his arrest as ‘illegal’. The government slammed that decision, suggesting the showdown is far from over. The former cricket star was granted bail in eight cases registered against him and blanket protection from arrest by the IHC on Friday, amid concerns the government will find other cases to arrest him. The ruling alliance has announced staging a protest sit-in outside the Supreme Court today against CJP Bandial for the judiciary’s “undue facilitation” of Imran Khan.
Khan termed PDM sit-in a drama saying, “The JUI-F drama being done outside the SC is only for one purpose, to overawe the Chief Justice of Pakistan so that he doesn’t give a verdict according to the Constitution.” He further claimed that the government will once again suspend internet services and ban social media which is only partially open today.
Imran Khan — whose senior party leadership is behind bars after violent protests that erupted following his arrest — has accused the authorities of violating basic human rights. The government has launched a massive crackdown against the PTI and arrested several senior leaders, including Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Mussarat Cheema, Asad Umar, Fawad Chaudhry, Shireen Mazari, etc.
Referring to the incidents, Khan said: “Then will follow a complete crackdown on whatever is left of PTI leadership and workers. And finally, they will ban the largest and only federal party of Pakistan. (Just as they banned the Awami League in East Pakistan).”
“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 assortment 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,” he tweeted.
Khan, 70, is striving for early polls after getting ousted in April 2022 in a no-confidence vote. Emboldened by strong support by the masses in opinion polls and rallies, the PTI chairman has shown no signs of backing down against the PDM government and is seeking support from the top court to hold elections in two provinces for a start.
