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LAHORE – Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Friday unequivocally slammed vandalism at the Jinnah House in Lahore during his party’s protest after his arrest in a graft case.
Speaking to journalists during his appearance in the Lahore High Court (LHC), he said such incidents brought bad name to Pakistan, adding: “It should not have happened what was witnessed on May 9.”
Violent protests had erupted in various cities of the country, including Lahore, Karachi, Multan and Gujranwala, after Imran Khan was arrested by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on the premises of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) in the Al-Qadir Trust case.
The situation turned ugly when the enraged protesters started entering the cantonment areas in Lahore. At one point, they barraged into the Jinnah House, the official residence of Lahore’s corps commander. The building was damaged while vehicles were set ablaze, with some elements looting things from the house.
The incident drew widespread condemnation.
Speaking about the allegations regarding providing shelter to “terrorists,” Mr Khan said he took the media persons inside his house to show them that there was no terrorist hiding. He blamed the PDM had damaged the repute of the country by taking such measures, adding that the coalition had been trapped by arresting over 7,000 PTI workers.
He expressed hope that no one could defeat his party as it was at the height of popularity.
Khan further said: “The party which has the vote bank, cannot be defeated. For a party having such a big vote bank, doesn’t bother who comes or goes. One-sided negotiations cannot happen. We have been talking about negotiations for the past 11 months.”
Lamenting over the current events, Khan said that this did not even happen during the Musharraf era. “I don’t know about Zia’s era, but such a big crackdown had never happened before. Fundamental rights have been abolished. Now it is the judiciary which is protecting the fundamental rights. I am a captain who will fight till the last ball, I will fight till the last ball.”
He said that they want to crush Tehreek-e-Insaaf completely. Those who demand a level playing field, it means that when the PTI is completely crushed, he who is calling himself Imam Khomeini will come to Pakistan and contest the elections.
Answering a journalist’s question regarding announcement of public rallies, Khan said that this is an election year. “In which country does it happen that there is an election year and they cannot hold rallies?”
The journalist then asked that regardless of all the issues, do you condemn the Jinnah House attack?
To which Khan said “I have condemned it before, every Pakistani condemns it. This incident has brought disrepute to Pakistan. It shouldn’t have happened.”
The PTI chairman also condemned the attack on the Jinnah House and other army installations during a press conference on Thursday. He demanded a probe into it.
Meanwhile, a bench of the LHC granted bail to Mr Khan in the Zille Shah murder case till June 2.
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