DLP Report
PESHAWAR
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Information and Public Relations Shafi Jan on Thursday said the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s “historic” rally in Peshawar marked the formal launch of a movement for the release of party founder Imran Khan, and announced a long march toward Islamabad on September 27.
Addressing a press conference, Mr Jan said the turnout, particularly of young people, showed continued public trust in Mr Khan and in KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, who he named as Mr Khan’s nominee for the province.
“The Peshawar gathering will prove to be a key milestone in the movement for Imran Khan’s release,” the minister said. “The people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and PTI’s youth have proved in large numbers that Imran Khan remains the country’s most popular political leader.”
He said the demands presented by Chief Minister Afridi at the rally were “fully within the ambit of the constitution and the law.”
The minister called for immediate justice for Mr Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi, saying timely justice was their basic right. He demanded that all restrictions on Mr Khan be lifted at once, and that he be allowed meetings with family members, lawyers, personal physicians, political colleagues and friends. He also called for all facilities under the jail manual to be provided “without delay.”
Mr Jan alleged that Mr Khan and Ms Bibi were being held in solitary confinement and were being denied access to doctors, lawyers and party leadership.
“That is a serious violation of the constitution, the law, jail rules and fundamental human rights,” he said.
The minister said PTI had always pursued constitutional and legal avenues to secure meetings with Mr Khan, access to justice and basic facilities.
“Our struggle will continue within the framework of the constitution and the law,” he added. “For the release of Imran Khan, for the supremacy of justice and for the protection of the people’s mandate, PTI will take every democratic, constitutional and legal route.”
He said a large number of people and PTI workers were expected to join the “historic long march” to Islamabad on Sept 27.
