-Instructs lawyers to approach Court for registration of required FIR
-Police launch probe on basis of its own FIR
-Aitizaz Ahsan meets PTI Chairman in Lahore
-Interior Minister asks Provincial government to open up national highways
LAHORE/ISLAMABAD: PTI Chairman Imran Khan called the first information report (FIR) registered on the Wazirabad incident “farcical” and said he would give his position through his lawyers.
“All my life I dreamt of seeing my country as a prospering welfare state and my struggle throughout has been to make this dream a reality for my nation.
Khan the nation has awakened, understood, and risen in support of his message of justice, freedom, and national sovereignty.
“When we are so close to our goal no fear or threat of death can stop my struggle. Our peaceful protests and dialogue are only for Pakistan’s Haqeeqi Azadi.”
PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry has said that party chairman Imran Khan has directed his lawyers to approach the courts for the registration of the first information report (FIR) of the Wazirabad incident.
In a tweet Tuesday, Chaudhry also accused the inspector general of Punjab and the deputy police officer of Gujrat of “wasting evidence” in the case.
Fawad Chaudhry also praised Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari for giving a “mature statement” on the attack on former premier Imran Khan.
“Who can feel the pain of terrorism more than Bilawal,” Fawad said. At the same time, he also urged the PPP leader chairman to release detained PTI workers in Sindh “who were also just demanding a free and fair probe” into the attack on Imran.
In an interview, Bilawal strongly condemned the attack on the former premier and demanded it should
be investigated in a proper manner to “bring the facts forward”.
“I’d like to utter my condemnation absolutely there needs to be free and fair investigation. An attack on the former prime minister or anyone needs to be probed in an impartial manner,” he said.
Meanwhile, senior lawyer Aitizaz Ahsan met PTI Chairman Imran Khan and inquired about his health at the latter’s Zaman Park residence in Lahore.
While speaking to journalists, Aitzaz Ahsan said, “I just came here to inquire about Imran Khan’s health” and he did not require any permission from his political party to visit his neighbour.
Meanwhile, Federal government Tuesday wrote a letter to the provincial governments of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa seeking the maintenance of law and order situation amid the protests following the assassination attack on PTI Chairman Imran Khan.
The government, in its letter, has provided a charge sheet to both the provincial governments warning Punjab and KP of “serious consequences” if law and order is not ensured.
Khan was shot in the legs last week in Wazirabad during the long march and since then, PTI has been holding back-to-back protests across the country, disturbing the daily routine of people and causing damage to property.
Centre has asked the provincial administrations to ensure the protection of the life and liberty of all citizens in the province, as it is their “primary responsibility”.
The letter’s contents state that citizens are facing problems during the commute and delivery of goods as a result of link roads, highways, and motorways being blocked by small groups of protestors.
It further read that students are also unable to go to school due to the closure of roads. Therefore, protestors should be removed immediately to restore routine movement of citizens, it said.
“It is also adversely affecting the economy of the country. It seems that instead of undertaking efforts to control the situation, the police have assumed the role of silent spectators.
The letter mentioned that the disruption caused by these protestors to the movement of people is in contravention of the Constitution’s Article 15, which is being viewed with “great concern” by the Centre.
“It appears that the provincial government is failing in its constitutional/legal obligation to maintain law and order which can have serious consequences. Hence, it is requested to immediately remove the protestors to restore smooth movement on motorways, highways, and link roads,” the letter read.
It should be noted that the interior ministry had also written a similar letter to the Government of Punjab on November 5.
The police on Tuesday launched a criminal investigation into a failed assassination attempt on former prime minister Imran Khan, saying one shooter was involved against his assertion that there were two of them.
Regional police chief Akhtar Abbas told media that a criminal investigation had been launched, without elaborating.
Police said the suspected shooter was arrested after PTI supporter Ibtesam Hasan overpowered him and threw off his aim, possibly saving the ex-premier from more serious gunshot wounds.
However, Imran and his aides have said they will not accept the case registered by the police it until it includes suspects named by him.
“We will file a petition,” Fawad Chaudhry told media, saying the party would want a court to decide on the names given by the former premier. –Agencies
