The party, in a strong reaction to the 10-year prison sentence that was handed down to former Prime Minister Imran Khan and former Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Tuesday, referred to the entire trial as “a complete disgusting mockery of law.”
Concerned about the possibility of a recurrence of the riots that occurred on May 9, 2023, the party asserted that “such sham trials have their future written in dustbin” and warned that “revenge will be taken through vote.” On the 8th of February, a number of figures within the PTI asked its followers to “maintain their composure and vote for Khan.”
“All PTI members and Pakistanis to remain calm and peaceful following the decision by this kangroo court against PM Imran Khan Sahib and Vice Chairman Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureishi sahib,” Omar Ayub Khan, the secretary general of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), asked in a video message that was released shortly after the verdict was announced.
The leader of the PTI requested that voters “concentrate on coming out in large numbers on 8th February, 2024 to ensure a high voter turnout and vote for PM Imran Khan sahib’s nominated candidates whose names have been posted on PTIs website and social media channels” .
According to Aleema Khan, the sister of the former prime minister Imran Khan, “Today, justice was trampled upon due to the fear of two names being brought up during the cross-examination,” she added, expressing her displeasure with the judge’s behavior toward them.
In the event that you do not accept this conclusion for the benefit of future generations, then you should commemorate the date of February 8 with a hundred percent attendance. She insisted that there is no more effective form of retribution than this.
In her statement to the media following the pronouncement of the verdict, Aleema stated that she required some time to gather her thoughts before she could address those who were attending the event. “I had thought they would award him [Imran] the death penalty as Rizwan Abbasi had asked for the same.”
During her interrogation of the attorneys who were there, she inquired about the efforts that they had taken to bring about changes in the legal system in Pakistan. “It was our first experience in such a matter, but you [lawyers] knew what the system is like here.”
In reference to this unfortunate judge Hasnaat, someone was providing him with instructions. Everyone in Pakistan is aware of that. With regard to the drama that he acted out the day before, he was also made fun of for it, as Imran’s sister explained.
“They were trying to make a mockery of a former premier and a former foreign minister, but they themselves have been made a mockery of.”
There was also a tweet made by Faisal Javed Khan, the leader of the PTI, on X, which was once known as Twitter, with the hashtag #StayCalmVoteForKhan.
Regarding the cypher:
This case was started as a result of Imran’s public display of a paper during a rally in Islamabad on March 27, 2022. He claimed that the paper was evidence of a “international conspiracy” before a vote of no confidence led to the removal of his administration.
After the previous coalition government, which was led by the PML-N, declared an official inquiry against Imran and his close allies for breaking the OSA, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) began its investigation into the so-called “cypher-gate” on July 19, 2023. However, the investigation was not yet complete.
Immediately after Imran was found guilty in the Toshakhana case by a local court in Islamabad, he was taken into custody on August 5, 2023. On August 29, he was also taken into custody in connection with the cypher case.
According to the challan papers, Imran and Qureshi, who had previously served as the minister of foreign affairs, were both charged with violating sections 5 and 9 of the OSA. In accordance with these regulations, the potential of the death penalty or life imprisonment is included.
