ISLAMABAD: PTI central information secretary Raoof Hasan on Tuesday alleged that a “reign of terror” had been unleashed on the party for the past 22 months under the ‘London Plan’ to dismantle PTI and remove its founding chairman Imran Khan from the political scene.

However, he claimed that the people, through power of their vote on February 8, would take revenge for every injustice being meted out to them.

Addressing a press conference — while being flanked by Senate Standing Committee for Human Rights Chairman Walid Iqbal, former advisor to prime minister on accountability retired Brig Musaddiq Abbasi and former Punjab advocate general Ahmad Awais — Mr Hasan said PTI, its leaders and workers were subjected to the worst state terrorism and barbarism after the “regime change conspiracy” of April 9, 2022 to clear the path for other parties.

“As soon as Sharifs and Zardaris were imposed on the nation, they instantly ended their corruption cases of whopping Rs1100 billion by exploiting the state institutions such as NAB and FIA cases,” Mr Hasan alleged.

Says people will take revenge through their vote tomorrow

He recalled that the PDM government brought the “fast-growing economy” to the “brink of bankruptcy”, plummeted the growth rate from six per cent to zero, swelled inflation to the worst ever rate of 48pc in just one-and aa-half year tenure.

Mr Hasan claimed that PTI leaders and workers had been facing brutalities and inhumane acts since May 25, 2022 long march, adding that political opponents were being subjected to illegal detentions, harassment and custodial torture, besides raids on their residences.

He said that people were deprived of their constitutional right to franchise, as the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), “at the behest of its masters”, stripped PTI of its electoral symbol, thus disenfranchising around 130 million voters.

Revenge through vote

However, Mr Hasan made it clear that despite all these state operations and suppression, PTI and its leaders continued their legal and political fights within the ambit of the constitution and law.

“People would take revenge through voting on February 8,” he said.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Iqbal said that the PTI founding chairman was deprived of fair trial as all his cases were conducted in-camera, which was a violation of his constitutional and fundamental rights, as Article 10 of the constitution gave every person a right to fair trial.

“All political parties could be seen holding public gatherings across the country but PTI even did not allow holding corner meetings,” he recalled, urging people especially youth and women to come out in large numbers because it was the only way to get their leader out from imprisonment.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Abbasi lamented that it was the first time in the last 75 years that a case of wrong assessment of the value of gifts was made despite the fact that the assessor was also a matric pass person, who were greatly confused when they were cross-examined in the court because there was no truth in the case.

About the cipher case, he said that a total of 25 witnesses were produced, but not one of PTI’s witnesses were allowed to appear in the cipher case, which was enough to believe that there was nothing in the case because Mr Khan, as the prime minister took oath to protect the sovereignty of Pakistan.

Mr Awais said Constitution was being violated with impunity, as rule of law was being changed through law of authority.

He said Mr Khan and Shah Mehmood Qureshi were not given a chance of defence which were their constitutional right.

He stated that the constitution was deliberately violated which was tantamount to subversion of the constitution and a punishable crime.

Published in Dawn, February 7th, 2024