ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Imran Khan has once again call­ed for a judicial inquiry into the May 9 violence and the Feb 8 elections.

He also urged the Chief Justice of Pakistan to hear the petitions filed by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI).

Mr Khan made the appeals while speaking to journalists after attending a court hearing in the 190 million pound corruption case.

The former prime minister said the establishment was using the May 9 violence as a pretext to dismantle his party in accordance with the “London plan”.

He called upon Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa to set up a judicial commission to probe the matter.

“The culprits could have been identified through CCTV footage, but these have been stolen. Those behind the footage theft were responsible for the May 9 episode,” the PTI chief said.

He alleged that the closure of cases related to the Sharif family and Presi­dent Asif Ali Zardari was a “part of the London plan”.

He said the PTI would not consider the Senate ele­ctions as legitimate bec­a­u­­se the National Assemb­­ly was “a product of rigged exercise” in the first place.

Lu’s testimony

In reply to a question about the hearing in US Congress on the cipher controversy last week, the PTI chief said it would have been a disaster for the Biden administration had Donald Lu, the US diplomat, stated that Washington supported the ouster of his government.

Mr Khan said Asad Majeed, the former amba­ssador in Washington, had informed the National Security Committee about the “threatening tone” of Donald Lu.

“Mr Lu did not disclose facts before the Congress hearing since it would have been damaging for the Biden administration.”

The former prime minister said he was not responsible for the security of cipher as a protocol was in place for safekeeping of secret documents.

He rejected the Election Commission of Pakistan’s investigation into allegations of rigging, saying that the ECP cannot carry out an “impartial probe” since it had itself conducted the exercise.

Bushra’s warning

Bushra Bibi, Imran Khan’s wife, also spoke to the media.

She said Mr Khan was in “good physical and mental health”.

She said the Chief of Army Staff, the ISI head and the chief of Counter Terrorism Department would be held responsible if “anything happened” to Mr Khan.

“The nation will not tolerate such an incident.”

Published in Dawn, March 27th, 2024