Imran Khan sees plot to ‘ban’ PTI as Pakistan govt supporters lead rare protest against Chief Justice
2 min read . Updated: 15 May 2023, 10:02 PM IST
PremiumThe ruling alliance of 13 political parties had announced a sit-in outside the Supreme Court on Monday to protest the judiciary's ‘undue facilitation’ of PTI Chairman Imran Khan.
Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan was granted bail by the Supreme Court on Friday, sparking fresh protests in the crisis-torn country. Leaders of the ruling coalition as well as government supporters launched a sit in protest outside the apex court amid growing calls for the chief justice to resign. Meanwhile Khan insisted that around 7,000 workers and leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf had been arrested recently ‘part of plans to ban the party’.
PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz Sharif demanded the resignation of Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial as she joined the protest on on Monday, blaming him for the "anarchy" and "crisis" in the country. She also accused the PTI chief of doing what “terrorists or Pakistan’s enemies could not do".
Khan had been arrested by the Pakistan Rangers while appearing before the Islamabad High Court last week. The move had triggered riots with several people being killed or injured. Dozens of military and state installations were also destroyed by the protesters. Days later his party enjoyed a moment of triumph as the country's Supreme Court deemed Khan's arrest illegal and called for his release.
Meanwhile Khan insisted that PDM “goons" facilitated by security agencies were trying to “take over" the Supreme Court and subverting the Constitution.
"So without any investigation into who was responsible for arson on a government building or dozens of deaths of unarmed protesters by bullet wounds, around 7000 PTI workers, leadership and our women have been jailed with plans to ban the largest and only federal party in Pak," he tweeted.
According to the district administration had protesters entered the Red Zone and pushed away the police and administration, despite Section 144 still being in effect.
“The JUIF Drama being done outside the SC tomorrow is only for one purpose, to overawe the Chief Justice of Pakistan so that he doesn't give a verdict according to the constitution," Khan added.
(With inputs from agencies)