PESHAWAR, May 28(ABC): PTI Chairman Imran Khan announced Saturday his party would move the Supreme Court of Pakistan on Monday seeking clarity on holding public rallies after the government crackdown and clashes across the country.
“I just want the clarity from the Supreme Court […] I just want its protection, then you will see that we will take out a record number of people to the streets,” Khan said in a press conference flanked by party leaders.
The ex-prime minister told the judiciary that the current situation was a “test” for the judiciary as he hoped that the apex court would give clarity over holding jalsas.
“The Supreme Court had directed the government to remove all the hurdles […] but we were not ready for what the government did in response,” Khan said about the riots in the capital.
The Supreme Court had directed the federal government to provide the PTI with a ground between the H-9 and G-9 areas of Islamabad to hold its public gathering — but the party went against it and Khan held a brief rally at D-Chowk, where he announced ending the long march and gave a six-day ultimatum to the government.
The PTI chairman also announced moving the court against the alleged revocation of the right to vote to overseas Pakistanis and the amendments to the National Accountability law.
The National Assembly had two days back passed the Elections (Amendment) Bill 2022, allegedly depriving overseas Pakistanis of voting rights, while it also passed the long-expected National Accountability (Second Amendment) Bill 2021.
Government tried to crush ‘peaceful protest’
The ousted prime minister alleged that the government tried to crush a “peaceful protest”; but warned that in the next phase, PTI would come with complete preparations.
“The ones who burned the trees were not our people,” the PTI chairman said, defending his party after there was an outrage for setting trees ablaze during the protest in Islamabad.
Khan also clarified that his party would not establish a militant wing, adding that he did not wish for violence to take place. “They [PML-N] are fascists, whenever they come into power, they use force.”
The PTI chairman further announced that his party would get first information reports (FIR) registered against police personnel involved in stopping the rallies and would also share their photos on social media.
