Ali Muhammad Khan further expressed concerns about the political landscape in Pakistan, questioning who bears responsibility for the nation’s governance if not Imran Khan
By our correspondent
LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Ali Muhammad Khan has vehemently denied allegations suggesting a deal concerning the bail of Aleema Khan and Uzma Khan, sisters of the party’s imprisoned founder Imran Khan. He asserted that if the granting of bail is perceived as a deal, then it would imply that all courts should be shut down. The anti-terrorism court in Islamabad approved bail for the sisters against surety bonds of Rs20,000 each after their arrest on October 4.
They were taken into custody amid PTI-led protests at D-Chowk in Islamabad, coinciding with a rally by supporters following the party’s announcement of the demonstration. The sisters were released from Jhelum Jail on bail on Friday. Addressing the media outside Adiala Jail, Ali Muhammad Khan highlighted the ongoing injustices faced by Imran Khan, who has been in custody since his arrest in August of the previous year. He criticized the treatment meted out to the former Prime Minister, referencing instances such as the cutting off of electricity in his cell.
“Is it not possible for a nuclear nation to provide security to a former prime minister?” he questioned, while lamenting the selective treatment of prisoners. Khan further expressed concerns about the political landscape in Pakistan, questioning who bears responsibility for the nation’s governance if not Imran Khan. He emphasized that the removal of PTI governments should not preclude the party’s role in shaping the country’s future. “As long as the founder is not released, we will continue to come,” he stated, underscoring the party’s commitment to seeking justice for Imran Khan.
Imran Khan is currently entangled in more than 150 legal cases, ranging from corruption and inciting violence to sedition and leaking state secrets, following his ousting from power through a parliamentary no-confidence vote in April 2022. While he has either been acquitted or granted bail in many of these cases, several remain unresolved. Ali Muhammad Khan criticized the notion of a deal related to the sisters’ bail, questioning the logic behind equating bail with a deal. He called for strengthening Pakistan’s judicial system and restoring the judiciary’s independence, appealing to the new Chief Justice to prioritize justice over political maneuvering.
