Ex-prime minister Imran Khan on Monday appealed to PTI workers to register with the party’s district presidents for the ‘Jail Bharo Tehreek’ (court arrest drive), vowing to launch the movement within a few days.
In a video address, Imran said he wanted the PTI district presidents to begin the registration process and called on volunteers to come forward. “First I want volunteers to register,” he said. “Then I will give a date in a few days on which day we will begin the ‘Jail Bharo Tehreek’.”
At the same time, Imran also called on the public to join the movement, saying that it was a “peaceful protest”. “You’re not doing politics […] you are fighting a jihad.”
The PTI chief said the movement would also help to achieve “haqeeqi democracy” (real democracy) where there would be rule of law. He added that only this could help the country out of the current crisis.
During the address, Imran highlighted that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and the governors of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had not yet given a date for provincial elections, stating that this was a violation of the Constitution. “If they exceed the 90-day period [for announcing polls], the Constitution is clear about the imposition of Article 6 against the violators,” he said, adding that the people were looking toward the judiciary for justice.
Imran also offered an explanation for why the PTI had decided to launch the ‘Jail Bharo Tehreek’. “In the entire world, nations are run according to the law,” he said. “The Constitution decides what is legal and illegal.”
The PTI chairman lambasted the “imported” coalition government for making a joke out of the Constitution and the law ever since it came into power. He said that the government and the police were openly flouting the directives issued by the courts. “The court had ordered the government to hold local government polls in Islamabad [but] they are yet to announce a date.”
Khan, in his address, said the economic crisis in Pakistan at present is unprecedented. He added that common people have never witnessed the extent of inflation and unemployment which the country is currently going through. “Considering how terrible the country’s economic situation is and because we have never resorted to disruption in our 26 years of politics, the Jail Bharo movement is a peaceful way to protest [against it],” the PTI chief said.
Khan also highlighted that his party decided to dissolve the two assemblies as the country was going through instability. “Governments in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were dissolved under the Constitution.” Imran alleged that the incumbent government was violating the fundamental rights of the people. He said social media users were being picked up over some tweets. He alleged PTI leaders Azam Swati, Shahbaz Gill and Fawad Chaudhry as well as his ally Sheikh Rashid were tortured, and numerous cases lodged against them just because they were in the opposition now.
The former prime minister cited an example of the ‘doctrine of necessity’ when Justice (retd) Munir, the second chief justice of Pakistan serving from 1954 to 1960, issued a verdict violating the Constitution. He said times had changed and people were looking towards courts. It was time to defend the Constitution, he remarked.
