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The fallout from Imran Khan’s arrest and subsequent release last week continued in Pakistan, with the ruling coalition party holding a protest of its own against the Supreme Court Chief Justice who provided relief to the former Prime Minister. Meanwhile, Khan’s bail has been extended till June 8, reported Pakistani media.
The Pakistani Army on Monday vowed to bring to justice the “spoilers” involved in the recent attacks on military installations through trials under relevant laws including the Pakistan Army Act and the Official Secret Act. Former prime minister Imran Khan’s arrest by the Rangers at the IHC premises last Tuesday triggered unrest in Pakistan that continued till Friday and led to several deaths and dozens of military and state installations being destroyed by the protesters.
Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial, who has been under fire from the ruling party for greeting Imran Khan cordially at the hearing of his bail plea last week, defended himself today. CJ Bandial's greeting of Khan with "good to see you" had been criticised by politicial leaders, but said that he uses the phrase to greet everyone, reported Dawn. As per the report, Justice Bandial said he holds deep respect for everyone and added that “etiquette and manners” was necessary for everyone.
However, not everyone is convinced.
The parliament on Monday passed a resolution to set up a five-member committee to prepare and file cases against Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial in the Supreme Judicial Council for his “misconduct and deviating from oath”.
Imran Khan has accused “agency men” of partaking in mayhem and shooting and blaming Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e Insaaf party for it. This comes after the Pakistan Army’s top brass on Monday vowed to bring to justice the “spoilers” involved in the recent attacks on military installations through trials under relevant laws, including the Pakistan Army Act and the Official Secret Act.
Ex-PM Imran Khan has called for renewed protests against a 'threat' to the sanctity of the Supreme Court and the Constitution of Pakistan. "All citizens be ready for peaceful protests as once again Constitution and SC destroyed, it is the end of the Pak dream," he said on Twitter.
The Pakistan Army’s top-brass on Monday vowed to bring to justice the “spoilers” involved in the recent attacks on military installations through trials under relevant laws including the Pakistan Army Act and the Official Secret Act.
A Special Corps Commanders Conference, chaired by Army chief General Asim Munir at General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, also resolved that restraint will no longer be exercised against perpetrators who attack military installations, said a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) – the media wing of the army.
Imran Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, who was co-accused along with Khan in the Al Qadir Trust corruption case, was granted bail by a Lahore court till May 23. Khan was earlier arrested and released in the same case.
Khan, who accompanied his wife to the Lahore High Court, had earlier on Monday expressed fears that the government was planning to arrest his wife as part of what he says is a campaign against him.
The ruling Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), which had been on a "peaceful" protest outside the Supreme Court premises in Islamabad, called of the sit-in on Monday against the judiciary's alleged "undue facilitation" of Imran Khan. PDM President Maulana Fazlur Rehman made the announcement while addressing a large number of participants of the sit-in.
Amidst domestic turmoil in Pakistan, the United States voiced support for freedom of expression without any violence and reiterated that a strong, stable and prosperous Pakistan is crucial to its ties with the country.
“Our belief is that individuals should have the freedom to express themselves, but do so without participating in any violence, violence that would put government employees in government buildings in harm’s way. And specifically on the arrest, I spoke a little bit to this last week,” state department’s Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel said.
Islamabad High Court today extended Imran Khan's bail plea in two graft cases till June 8, reported Dawn. The cases are in regard to making allegations against top officers of state institutions and the manhandling of PML-N leader Mohsin Ranjha by PTI workers.
As per a report in the Pakistani daily Express Tribune, the suspension of mobile internet and social media in the country in the wake of the May 9 violence that followed Imran Khan's arrest cost the nation over PKR 2.49 billion. The days-long blackout also disrupted online education, business and e-commerce, and prompted anger from citizens over the loss of their freedom of speech.
