Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) announced on Sunday that it will file cases against the Punjab Rangers and the National Accountability Bureau for “kidnapping” its leader, Imran Khan.
On May 9, the Rangers arrested ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan in the Al-Qadir Trust case while acting on an anti-graft watchdog’s warrant. According to Geo News, a meeting of the party’s central leadership on Sunday, led by Khan, strongly condemned the “abduction” of the PTI chief and called for the formation of a Supreme Court-appointed high-powered commission to investigate the killings of citizens on May 9 and attempts to create anarchy in the country.
The arrest of Khan sparked violent protests across the country. During the days-long protests, at least ten people were killed and dozens more were injured, and internet service has been suspended across the country ever since.
After supporters attacked military installations, the army declared that May 9, the day after Khan’s arrest, would be remembered as a “dark chapter” in history.
The PTI also announced the filing of cases for the murders of unarmed citizens during peaceful protests. Police officers, including IGs and others, will be nominated in FIRs by Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah, caretaker Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief ministers Mohsin Raza Naqvi and Azam Khan, according to the statement.
The Punjab caretaker government has no legal or constitutional justification to continue, according to the PTI, as the Supreme Court’s deadline (May 14) for holding elections in the province expired today.
According to Geo News, the PTI urged authorities to investigate a “pre-planned” strategy to create anarchy during the “peaceful” protests of party workers and incidents of firing on citizens.
In its declaration, the PTI vowed to use people’s force to respond to the ruling alliance’s efforts to blackmail the Supreme Court or prevent it from carrying out its constitutional duties.
