Azam Khan Swati’s custodial torture issue to be raised at every form: Imran Khan
ISLAMABAD, Oct 22 (SABAH): Former prime minister and Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan made it clear that they would approach every forum over the custodial torture of party leader and Senator Azam Khan Swati, saying that since day one the imported government wanted to crush and break the PTI by resorting to such brutal and inhuman tactics.
Addressing a press conference along with Azam Swati, Imran Khan lashed out at the imported government for the inhuman treatment being meted out to its political opponents. He said that the kind of violence tactics being used are unprecedented, adding that these thieves and criminals imposed through foreign conspiracy did not care whether the country went up or down, as they looted the national wealth and laundered abroad. “Since day one they want to crush my party, as I have never seen such level of torture in dictatorship,” he added. He said that what happened to Azam Swati was regrettable. He also regretted why the judiciary did not take notice of the custodial torture of Dr. Shahbaz Gill.
He went on to say that Swati would have never faced this situation if the judiciary had taken notice of Gill’s torture. He vowed that he stood with Swati and would take up his custodial torture issue at all forms. Imran Khan said that the FIA officials barged into his house without any arrest order and tortured him in front of his grandchildren just for tweeting against a powerful person.
“He was beaten in front of his grandchildren,” he stated, adding that Swati was later handed over by FIA to another institution where he was beaten for hours after being stripped naked. Imran Khan demanded that Chief Justice of Pakistan should take notice of the tragic incident and should summon FIA and questioned as whom he was handed over. He said that the same was done with Shahbaz Gill and Jamil Farooqi.
Imran Khan stated that such action would not increase respect of any institution but such actions would cause discard and hatred in the society as if some people were above the law. He raised a question will the nation respect the institutions due to the atrocities they are committing? “There are some unknown persons roaming freely, people frightened even taking their name, picked up people if someone tweets on social media and told to give a statement against Imran Khan.
“They are the enemies of the country and isolating it. These actions will never bring them prestige,” he added. PTI Chairman said that Ishaq Dar was made finance minister despite his confessional statement against Sharifs for whom he was doing money laundering, adding that billions of corruption cases of the big thieves were waiving off.
He stated that Asif Ali Zardari was jailed twice by Sharif in corruption but even he got concession during this government of crooks. Talking about his party long march, Imran Khan said that he would announce date for long march on Friday, warning the government against taking steps to stop the march.
He said “Political parties always hold backdoor channels talks but I do not think the ongoing talks will have any meaning outcome.” Imran Khan said that the imposed rulers suffered humiliating defeat in the recently-held by-polls; hence they realised that they could not compete with PTI in the election. “Therefore, they will not call early elections,” he added.
He stated that Ejaz-ul-Haq said that he used to take Shehbaz Sharif in a car trunk to meet the army chief; therefore holding talks with such person was fruitless. “This time, the march will be peaceful, and people will enjoy it, as people from all walks of life will take part in it,” he added. It would be the biggest march of Pakistan’s history, he maintained. “I am moving forward according to my planning,” he said.
He said that even if he was arrested, the long march would take place, adding that if the government attempted to stop his organised and peaceful long march then it will result into chaos. The PTI Chairman said that he would not allow the government to torture or harass his party leaders and workers like the last time. “This sort of violence does not take place anywhere in the world,” he added.
“We are the specialist of the long march, this time it is going to be different,” he added. PTI chairman said their sole demand is the early general elections in the country. He said that the chief election commissioner (CEC) was hand in glove with the imported government while terming him as a disgraced person. “Pakistan is going into a quagmire, the only solution is elections,” he added.
Speaking on the occasion, Senator Azam Swati revealed that he was subjected to worst custodial torture and vowed that he would exposed the elements who unclothed and disgrace the Upper House of the country. He said that being a lawyer and senator, he would urge judiciary to take suo-moto notice of his custodial torture. The senator said he would knock the door of every national and international body for getting justice as arresting somebody without even commitment of a crime was unlawful.
Swati said that today it was him, but the day is not far when a judge could be a victim. “I along with my three granddaughters will come to the Supreme Court,” he added. He said that three innocent granddaughters are still traumatized by what they saw, I ask the Chief Justice not to let these flames reach the judiciary.
However, Swati vowed that such inhuman and brutal tactics could not dampen his courage and he would take the issue at all international forma so as that justice could be done. Swati stated that Pakistan was lucky to have Imran Khan like brave leader who took a firm stand against all these brutalities and atrocities being carried out in the country.