Imran Khan demands formation of a powerful committee, under CJP Umar Ata Bandial’s supervision, to probe Wazirabad assassination bid
LAHORE, Jan 05 (SABAH): Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan Thursday demanded the formation of a powerful committee, under Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial’s supervision, to probe the Wazirabad assassination bid.
In a press conference, Imran Khan said: “I earlier stated this as well that I only hope for justice from one place [SC] as powerful people will not allow the investigation to take place.” Imran Khan was shot in the leg on November 3 as he waved to crowds from a truck-mounted container while leading a protest march to Islamabad to pressure the government into announcing an early election — but it was cut short in Rawalpindi.
Hinting at the involvement of the armed forces in his attack, Imran Khan said that although the Pakistan Army was a top institution that serves its country, there are “black sheep” in every institute. “Now, I want the person who planned to have me killed to cooperate with the JIT. These people are intentionally obstructing justice,” the ex-premier said.
The PTI chief earlier blamed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah, and a senior military officer for allegedly being involved in his assassination bid.
Imran Khan further said that when Naveed, the suspect in the assassination bid, was arrested, his confessional video statement was released almost immediately “even when I had not reached the hospital after getting shot at”. The PTI chief said that Naveed claimed he was working alone. “He was programmed to say this.”
The ex-prime minister claimed that the suspect was asked to say that he was working alone as if there had been someone aiding him, then he could not be called a “religious fanatic”.
Imran Khan said the police quickly recorded the video statement of the suspect and disseminated it among “journalists and television channels” who work against the PTI.
The PTI chief claimed that Naveed was not a random religious fanatic rather he was a trained shooter. “And I know this because I have practised shooting.
Blaming the police for not following orders, he said that the officers at the police station where the suspect was held, did not cooperate with the relevant authorities.
Imran Khan then said that he had earlier revealed in two public gatherings that a plan was being hatched to have him assassinated and that “two to three people were involved in it”.
“Who were the people creating hurdles in the investigation? Who were the people who did not record the statements?” the ex-PM questioned.
Imran Khan maintained that if he has taken a suspect’s name, then it was his right to get a first information report (FIR) registered against him and that the police — which comes under his own government — denied him that right.
He also appealed to Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial for justice. “I had stated earlier that I only expect justice from the Supreme Court. Powerful people who I have named will not allow justice to be carried out. If the chief justice back a powerful inquiry, only then can I get justice.”
Imran Khan claimed that people from “agencies” had already informed him about the bid to assassinate him. He said that “Liaquat Ali Khan type shooting incident” was planned to kill him with the motive similar to the “killing of Salman Taseer”.
He added that the plot was unsuccessful as the bullet fired by Naveed, the suspected shooter, hit one of the PTI workers instead.
He further said that the Gujrat district police officer (DPO) had refused to cooperate with the JIT formed to probe the attack while the Counter Terrorism Department personnel, who had appeared in the suspect’s confessional video, had also refused.
Without taking names, Imran said that “an institution” working under the federal government had refused to conduct a forensic analysis of a mobile phone forwarded by the JIT.
During the address, Imran also played a CCTV video which purportedly showed the DPO directing an official to record the confessional statement of the Wazirabad shooter.
“Which institution was behind the release of the suspect’s confessional statement? I know it,” he said. “I hope we can tell everyone who they are when the JIT summons them.”
Imran Khan said on August 24, journalist Waqqat Satti posted a doctored video in which he was accused of committing a blasphemy.
Similarly, he said PML-N leaders Javed Latif, Maryam Nawaz, Rana Sanaullah and Khawaja Asif addressed press conferences and accused him of hurting religious sentiments of the masses.