LAHORE, Mar 11 (NNI): Former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Saturday announced that he would lead a public rally tomorrow (Sunday) in connection with election campaign, launched for upcoming general elections in Punjab.
Addressing the party workers and supporters via video link, the former premier strongly criticised the caretaker Punjab government and police for ‘killing’ the PTI worker – Ali Bilal aka Zille Shah – and terming the death ‘road accident’.
“I will lead the election rally tomorrow at 02:00pm to show them [the government] that we are not domesticated animals,” Imran Khan said, directing the party workers and supporters to prepare for the ‘election campaign’.
He said that the people of Lahore would show tomorrow that they would not surrender to oppression. “People of the city will come out of their homes in large numbers tomorrow,” he said emphatically.
The PTI chief warned that the incumbent government will do anything to ‘run away’ from the elections, reiterating his claim of another assassination attempt on him or an explosion.
“They [the incumbent rulers] want to kill me as they are afraid of the sea of people,” he said, vowing to fight ‘till the last drop of blood’.
He also criticised Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif, saying that an ‘absconder’ was making the country’s decisions while sitting in London. “The court had declared him a national criminal”, he added.
Referring to PTI worker Ali Bilal’s death, Imran Khan accused the Punjab caretaker government of covering up Zille Shah’s death, and urged the Lahore High Court (LHC) to constitute a judicial commission to probe the matter.
“I want to tell Judiciary and Advocates that you are those that can stop Pakistan from becoming a banana republic,” he added.
He strongly criticised the law enforces for ‘torturing Zille Shah in custody, saying that he could not believe ‘what they [police] did to a special person’.
The former prime minister alleged that there were at least 64 marks on Bilal’s body, which he said was indication that torture was inflicted on him.
“Police threw Zille’s body on a road after brutally torturing him,” Imran said, adding, “It’s a shame that initially it was said that Zille had been killed. But now it is being said that he died due to an accident.”
He regretted that those very officers who had committed atrocities against PTI leaders and workers on May 25, 2022 had been appointed on key posts in Punjab.
The former premier also demanded resignation of caretaker Punjab CM, IGP and others, and held them responsible for violence against his party workers on the rally day in Lahore, and for murder of Zille Shah.
He said the people were aware of the whole story of the imposition of Article 144 in Lahore [while PTI was rallying] adding that the PTI’s election rally and peaceful protestors were the targets. “Police’s actions grounded the structure of prosecution in the province”, he added. It had become increasingly difficult, he said, for the courts to decide whether the accused nominated by the police was guilty or not.
The PTI chairman went on to say that efforts being made to eliminate all the evidence.
Imran Khan went on to say that Minister of Defence Khawaja Asif gave the same statement as Shahbaz Gill but no action was taken against him, adding that he would ask the former SAPM to lodge case against the minister so that he would face the same punishment as he faced.
Mr Khan also alleged that the government was trying to postpone the election by assassinating him.
Earlier in the day, Punjab Caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi – while addressing a press conference – rubbished the PTI claims that Ali Bilal was killed in police custody, saying that PTI worker Ali Bilal aka Zille Shah died in a road accident in Lahore.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf worker Ali Bilal lost his life when police and the PTI supporters clashed violently on Wednesday ahead of Lahore rally. The PTI leadership claims Bilal was in police custody when he was killed.
The post-mortem report of PTI activist Ali Bilal, whom the party claims was murdered at the hands of the police, revealed that the worker was subjected to severe torture and died from excessive bleeding.
According to a post-mortem report, Ali Bilal was subjected to torture, and died from excessive bleeding caused by a severe blow to his head. The report revealed that 26 different marks of torture were found on the victim’s body, including on sensitive parts, while a part of his skull was badly affected.
Addressing a press conference flanked by Punjab IGP Usman Anwar, interim Punjab CM said that Ali Bilal was hit by a vehicle which led to his death. He said that four people — who brought Ali to the hospital in a 4×4 vehicle — have been arrested and will be presented before a court.
The chief minister commended Punjab police for their efforts in tracing the suspects. He denied the involvement of his administration in the incident. “I will not surrender. I will prefer going home but will not give in,” the CM told journalists and advised PTI to refrain from levelling baseless allegations on Punjab govt.
The Election Commission of Pakistan has announced the election schedule for the general election in Punjab. “Polling for the election of Punjab provincial assembly will be held on April 30,” the election commission announced.
According to the election schedule, candidates could submit their nomination papers from March 12 to 14, while scrutiny of the papers will be held on March 22.
The candidates could withdraw their nomination papers up to April 05 and election symbols to candidates will be allotted on April 06, the ECP announced.
It is pertinent to mention here that President Dr Arif Alvi announced April 30 as the date for elections in Punjab. NNI
