We are people, not sheep: says Imran Khan

LAHORE, Oct 29 (SABAH): Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairperson Imran Khan on Saturday delivered another speech aimed at the establishment and said that “we are people and not sheep” as he kicked off Day 2 of the long march from Lahore’s Shahdara area.

Addressing PTI supporters soon after reaching the container to lead the march, the former premier claimed that “incidents of torturing people and threats have increased ever since the military officials, named by Azam Swati, have come into power in Islamabad”.

He highlighted that first they “tortured” PTI leader Shahbaz Gill, then journalist Jameel Farooqi and then “75-year-old Senator Azam Swati”.

“Do not treat us like animals,” he warned referring to senior officials, mentioning the oscillating politics of the said institution. “First you believed Nawaz Sharif was a thief, now he is pure,” he added.

“The DG ISI had said that it was an apolitical press conference, but only Imran Khan was targeted in this ‘non-political’ press conference,” he furthered.

He also questioned if they could not see the “thieves” who were pardoned for stealing Rs 11,000 billion. “Do you not see the oppression, the violation of fundamental rights?” he asked.

He urged Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa to remove the ISI personnel allegedly involved in torture, highlighting that he had removed the Karachi sector in-charge on Bilawal Bhutto’s request. “They are dishonouring the army, Pakistan and you [Gen Bajwa],” claimed the PTI chief said.

Imran quoted Swati as saying that he would have committed suicide if he was not a Muslim and questioned the lengths of torture the PTI senator allegedly endured.

Human dignity is protected in the Constitution, he said, imploring the chief justice of Pakistan to take action on Swati’s appeal and “show that we are a human society”. He reiterated that justice was a right.“General Bajwa, you must investigate these two people and transfer them,” he reiterated.