Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: PTI leader Senator Azam Khan Swati approached the Islamabad High Court on Monday concerning the cases filed against him for tweeting against senior military officers.
Swati filed a petition which said that the Federal Investigation Authority (FIA) filed a case against him under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA). In his petition, the senator said that he was subjected to the worst torture while in custody. He said that he has information that he can be killed in custody. “Azam Swati can be subjected to any sort of inhuman treatment,” read the petition, seeking the details of the cases registered against him. The PTI leader in his petition stated that basic human rights should be ensured in his matter.
Swati should not be transferred to any other place, said the petition, adding that cases have been filed against the senator in Sindh. The federal government, FIA and inspector general of Sindh and Balochistan were made parties in the petition. Raising his voice for Swati, Imran Khan asked the Supreme Court if Article 14 of the Constitution — which refers to the inviolability of dignity of man — is only applicable to the powerful people of the state. Khan made the remarks after more than 15 FIRs were lodged overnight against the PTI leader from across the country following his controversial remarks against the military’s senior leadership.
In a series of tweets on Monday, the PTI chairman asked, “Article 14 of our Constitution refers to “Inviolability of dignity of man”; so my question to our Honourable SC Judges is whether this provision is only applicable to the powerful of the State & for everyone else there is no protection of their basic human dignity?”
The former prime minister wondered where was justice in all this. “Is the Article 14 Constitutional provision only to be applied selectively for the high & mighty State functionaries?” he added.
Lamenting the alleged custodial torture of Swati and his objectionable video, the PTI chairman said that Swati was stripped naked, tortured, and humiliated through an illegal video sent to his wife.
“For weeks he has sought justice from SC to no avail. So when he reacts in justifiable anger & frustration, he is put in jail & at last count 15 FIRs registered against him across Pakistan,” he added.
Sunday, Swati was arrested and sent on a two-day physical remand for using foul language for the army chief and other senior military officers from his farmhouse located in Chak Shahzad, Islamabad.
He was arrested by the FIA’s Cybercrime Wing and a case was registered for libel and the PECA. The senator was arrested under Sections 500, 501, 505 and 109. He was also arrested under the same provisions last month.
