Achi news desk-
Former prime minister and founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan wrote a scathing letter on Saturday to Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa urging him to act on “matters of grave importance”, warning that his inaction could worsening the brewing constitutional crisis in the country, warning that it could push the country closer and closer to the abyss.
The four-page letter was signed by Imran Khan, who remains incarcerated in Adiala Jail after being convicted in the Toshakhana, Official Secrets Acts and illegal marriage contract cases.
Imran raised seven issues in his letter, including the prosecution of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in the Toshakhana case by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), the incident in Bahawalnagar where uniformed military officers allegedly entered a police station and beat the staff there. before stripping them naked and tying them up while filming them.
Other issues included the letter written by six judges of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to Chief Justice Isa conveying the interference, intimidation and surveillance of judges; the trial of PTI workers by military and other courts over the events of May 9; the statement by the Rawalpindi commissioner on alleged election rigging and PTI’s petitions on pending elections; and the decision to refuse to allocate reserved seats to PTI.
On the Toshakhana issue, Imran described the case against Nawaz Sharif, who “by dishonest and illegal means for personal gain and interest”, had acquired a luxury vehicle from Toshakhana. The case was filed five years ago, just as Imran Khan came to power.
“But now, suddenly, after pursuing it as an open and shut case for all those years, with statements of 15 out of 25 witnesses already recorded, the NAB prosecutors are proposing to the Court of Accountability ousted Mian Nawaz Sharif.”
Imran said this made a mockery of the justice system as NAB “clearly sides with thieves.”
“The dishonesty, discrimination and double standards used by NAB at the behest of its puppet chairman Nazir Ahmed Butt calls for a thorough investigation into Butt’s conduct and for his dismissal.”
On the Bahawalnagar incident, Imran noted that it amounted to “uniform vigilante justice.”
He said the incident sends a message that the police cannot cross an invisible line against those who stand above him in the pecking order. Despite that, Imran complained that the police repeatedly crossed all lines known to the public by looting, vandalizing and ransacking the homes of unarmed civilians.
He accused the judiciary of being “bystanders” and “facilitators” of excesses against defenseless men, women and children. Furthermore, he said that “conscientious” judges were being targeted through references from powerful quarters.
“This begs the question: should the basic rights of human dignity and privacy of the home be enforced only by the barrel of the gun, or does the judiciary retain any kind of authority to enforce them in general?”
He added that the lines drawn by our Constitution between the different pillars of the state are becoming blurred to non-existence, and that this must be stopped before it is too late.
On the letter of the six judges, Imran said that it is ironic that those who are bound to ensure justice for others seek justice themselves.
He said that if the judiciary had formed the judicial convention, demanded by the six judges, it would have revealed the extent of this interference and shown to what extent, institutionally, those with weapons continue to prevail those who have the pen.
“Until now, however, the steps taken by the Supreme Court on the subject have been mild and inconclusive,” he said, urging that this calls for strict steps on the part of the Supreme Court towards setting the system correctly quickly by coming to his job. their own aid, by coming to the aid of all the high courts and by coming to the aid of all subordinate courts under their respective supervisory jurisdictions.
“If not, the people’s confidence in Pakistan’s justice system, which is already being significantly eroded, will be dismantled and demolished.”
Imran also raised the issue of PTI supporters and workers who were arrested for their alleged involvement in the May 9 riots.
He began by claiming that he believed “in my heart” that more than 90% of those jailed or on trial in various courts for the violence, arson and looting linked to the protests were innocent. .
“The state, however, acts as judge, jury and executioner in all these trials. Firstly, directly through military courts on the Constitution the Supreme Court has been dragging its feet longer than the he should, and, secondly, in an indirect way, by holding guns to the heads of the lower court judges who conduct the trials,” complained Imran.
He referred to a petition filed by the PTI but pending in the Supreme Court since May 25, 2023, which called for an independent, transparent and thorough investigation into the May 9 violence. He urged the court to set the case for hearing on grounds priority.
Referring to the press conference by the Rawalpindi Commissioner on February 17, admitting responsibility for rigging during the February 8, 2024 general elections, Imran asked if the Supreme Court feels so helpless that it does not consider this a matter of public importance with reference to the enforcement of the fundamental rights conferred by Chapter 1 Part II of the Constitution?
Imran drew the court’s attention to petitions filed by the PTI on the illegality of the February 8 elections. Stating that the petitions have been languishing in the court for the past two months, Imran urged the top court to hear them.
He concluded the letter by raising the issue of the Election Commission of Pakistan redistributing reserved seats in the assemblies, which he said belonged to the PTI.
Imran said there was a vote on key appointments during a period when the houses were incomplete.
He also challenged the legality of the allocation of reserved seats to political parties in excess of the proportion represented by their overall seats.
Imran urged the top court to set an early hearing of the petitions filed by the party members so far.
The former premier sought to recall CJP Isa’s stated commitment to the principles and values espoused by the nation’s founder, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, while leaving out how his government was right to address CJP Isa in the Supreme Judicial Council.
“As what I believe is the majority of our population facing the wrath of the state. Now is the time for you to prove whether your declared belief in the principles and values espoused by the founders of Pakistan and your declaration of supremacy the Constitution. is it real or just empty rhetoric.”
