RAWALPINDI: A day after Omar Ayub surprised many by conveying a “friendly” message from his party’s founder to the army chief, Imran Khan’s sister has also spoken out in a similar vein, leaving many wondering how the PTI has changed its mind regarding the army.
The PTI has blamed the powerful military for the party’s recent misfortunes, but the change in stance comes days after documents unfavorable to the army chief were published on the party’s official website.
This led to several arrests and the crackdown on party spokesperson Raoof Hasan and several members of the PTI social media team.
Speaking to reporters after meeting his brother at Adiala Prison on Friday, Arema Khan urged Chief of Army Staff Gen. Asim Munir to “remain neutral”.
Imran “requested” Gen Munir to remain neutral and to identify the suspects in the May 9 attack through CCTV footage, reports say
Quoting Imran Khan, she said CCTV footage should be used to identify those really responsible for the May 9 unrest and innocent people languishing in jail should be set free.
She said Khan had always called for peaceful protests, adding: “We have never made any malicious calls.”
Conveying her brother’s message, she said the PML-N and PPP have lost the moral high ground and are trying to pit the PTI and the army against each other.
The army is the backbone of Pakistan and “we do not want a direct confrontation between the army and the people,” she said.
Without the rule of law, how will the country move forward? she asked, quoting her brother.
Businesses and the economy have been destroyed and people are leaving the country in search of better conditions, she said.
Speaking about Friday’s legal proceedings, she said her brother’s legal team was not allowed inside the prison and police told the judge that the lawyers had not shown up, even though they were actually standing outside.
In response, she claimed, the judge adjourned the hearing and she left the courtroom.
Published in Dawn on July 27, 2024
