Imran Khan demands release of political prisoners

[Anthea]

Pakistan capital locked down as

Imran Khan supporters rally

Khan was barred from standing in the February elections that were marred by allegations of rigging, and sidelined by dozens of legal cases

Pakistan's capital has been locked down, swarmed by security forces with mobile internet cut as supporters of jailed ex-prime minister Imran Khan attempted to seize the streets in protest.

On Saturday, small and scattered convoys pressed in on Islamabad in defiance of the government which approved troops for deployment on the streets.

"I am so proud of all our people," said a message from Khan posted on the social media site X.

"You showed unfaltering resilience and courage as you came out yesterday and overcame unbelievable obstacles."

Khan was barred from standing in the February elections that were marred by allegations of rigging, and sidelined by dozens of legal cases.

But his Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) party has defied a crackdown to needle the government with regular demonstrations.

PTI supporters began driving to Islamabad on Friday from his powerbase in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province but were met with shipping container roadblocks and volleys of tear gas.

Infringement on 'people's right'

Protests were also due on Saturday in Lahore, however, the main motorway linking the eastern megacity to the capital was blocked.

Over 80 police personnel have been injured in clashes with protesters, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said on Saturday.

He said more than 80 police officers had been treated for injuries since Friday when clashes broke out just outside the city during a rally.

Amnesty International said the communications cuts and road blockades "infringe on people's right to freedom of expression, access to information, peaceful assembly and movement".

"These restrictions are part of a worrying clampdown on the right to protest in Pakistan," the rights group said.

Social media site X has also been blocked across Pakistan since after the election, when mobile internet was likewise cut on polling day and PTI allege widespread vote tampering took place.

The 72-year-old Khan served as prime minister from 2018 to 2022, when he was ousted in a parliamentary no-confidence vote after allegedly falling out with the powerful military establishment considered Pakistan's political kingmakers.

As opposition leader he led an unprecedented campaign of defiance before becoming tangled in slews of court cases he claims have been orchestrated to prevent his return to power.

Sadly TRUE the new Pakistani government is making up lies in order to suppress the much loved and highly respected Imran Khan

https://www.trtworld.com/asia/pakistan- ... y-18216388

[Anthea]

Allow Imran Khan's meeting with his family

or face protests on October 15

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has announced that it will hold massive protests on October 15 at Islamabad's D-Chowk if the party is not allowed to meet its founder, Imran Khan

PTI central information secretary, Sheikh Waqas Akram, has laid down a condition for the government to withdraw from the announced protest. Speaking with ARY News, Akram said, "Allow party founder Imran Khan's meeting with his family and lawyers or face massive protests on October 15," he said.

He further said that Imran Khan has been denied visits from anyone, including lawyers and family members, for the past five to six weeks by the government

"We have no contact with our leader (Imran Khan) and reports of mistreatment in jail are concerning.

Our protest is not against the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit, but for access to Imran Khan's," Sheikh Waqas Akram added, ARY News reported.

Earlier, PTI had announced the protest at Islamabad's D-Chowk on October 15, the day when the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit will start.

PTI had announced the decision after the party held its political committee meeting. Sheikh Waqas Akram had said that a 'powerful' protest would be held at D-Chowk in Islamabad on October 15. He announced PTI's decision in a post shared on X.

The Imran Khan-founded party called for an end to 'unlawful' raids and arrests by the federal and Punjab government. Sheikh Waqas Akram stated that the PTI chairman's life is under threat due to the actions of the government, which have 'stripped' him of basic human rights.

Akram had also accused the government of oppression and violence, stressing that PTI will not back down. He further said, "The entire Pakistan will take to the streets on October 15, if Imran Khan is not granted access to basic rights, family, and party leaders," the report said. (ANI)

https://www.aninews.in/news/world/asia/ ... 013155040/

[Anthea]

"Free Imran Khan":

Trump's incoming envoy Richard Grenell calls for ex-Pak PM's release

Washington DC [US], December 25 (ANI): US President-elect Donald Trump's incoming envoy for special missions, Richard Grenell, on Wednesday, called for the release of former Pakistani Prime Minister and founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan, who is detained on charges of corruption in Pakistan.

In an interview with the American news outlet Newsmax, Grenell discussed the relationship between the US and Pakistan during Trump's first term as president, noting that the relationship with Pakistan improved when Khan took to power.

According to Grenell, the former Pakistani Prime Minister was seen as an outsider and not a traditional politician, emphasising a connection with Donald Trump.

He pointed out that Khan is facing allegations similar to those that led to the imprisonment of former President Trump and called for his release, aligning his situation with that of President Trump.

"We had a much better relationship with Pakistan during the Trump administration when a guy named Imran Khan was the leader of Pakistan. That's because Imran Khan was an outsider. He was a former cricket player and actually the captain of the Pakistani national cricket team. He wasn't a politician, and he spoke in very common-sense language. He and Donald Trump had a very good relationship," Grenell said.

"I'd like to see Imran Khan be released from jail. He's currently in prison, facing many of the same allegations as President Trump, where the ruling party put him in prison and created some sort of corruption and false allegations, and he's in prison now," he added.

Earlier on Tuesday, Grenell, in reply to the US State Department spokesperson Mathew Miller's post in X, called for the release of the PTI founder.

He further slammed the State Department Spokesperson stating that the US's concern over the "sentencing of Pakistani civilians in a military tribunal" was late and that the effort was "too little and too weak."

"You are late. And this is too little and too weak. Speak normally. Free Imran Khan," Grenell said on X in reply to Miller's post on X where he stated, "The United States is concerned by the sentencing of Pakistani civilians in a military tribunal and calls upon Pakistani authorities to respect the right to a fair trial and due process." (ANI)

https://www.aninews.in/news/world/us/fr ... 225202035/

[Anthea]

Imran Khan rejects offer of house arrest

demands release of political prisoners

Incarcerated former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan was offered the option of house arrest in exchange for agreeing to negotiations. However, Khan rejected the offer, saying that political prisoners must first be released

Speaking to lawyers and journalists at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi on Thursday, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief, Khan, described the year 2024 as a challenging year for Pakistan.

In his post on X, Khan said, "The proposal I received for a deal was: "Negotiate with us, and we will give your party 'political space', but you will be placed under house arrest and moved to Bani Gala."

My response was that all other political prisoners must first be released. I would rather stay in jail than accept any deal. I will neither go into house arrest nor to any jail in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. My message to my nation is to not lose heart; your captain is standing firm!"

Khan also called on overseas Pakistanis to join a campaign to boycott remittances.

He criticized the lack of attention to the rule of law in the country, which he said had led to investors withdrawing their capital and factories shutting down. Khan argued that had the rule of law been prioritized, Pakistan would have attracted investments, stabilising the country's economy.

Speaking about the use of military courts in trials of citizens and the divergence of Pakistan's intelligence agencies towards "political engineering and dismantling PTI", Khan said, "A transparent trial is a fundamental constitutional right of citizens. Trying cases in military courts has violated the basic rights of citizens and has caused severe embarrassment for Pakistan at an international level."

He added, "Intelligence agencies are meant to safeguard our borders and prevent terrorism. Who will guard our borders if their focus is on political engineering and dismantling PTI? They must rethink their policies.

Afghanistan has been bombed twice. Earlier, it was claimed that forcibly repatriating refugees would reduce terrorism, but it only fueled hatred, which is detrimental to regional peace. Not once did Bilawal, when he was the Foreign Minister, visit Afghanistan although that should have been the priority.

I had even told General (Rtd.) Bajwa to not replace General (Rtd.) Faiz because the situation in Afghanistan would be very different after the US forces exited. However, he was making decisions to enable his own extension rather than to benefit Pakistan. Which is why Pakistan suffered as there was an increase in terrorism."

As per Pakistan Tehreek-I-Insaaf, Imran Khan has been in jail for over 500 days now. (ANI)

https://www.aninews.in/news/world/asia/ ... 228044139/