On May 7, the Director General of ISPR stated in a press conference that he would not grant us amnesty on May 9. Our stance is unequivocal: forgiveness is sought by the oppressor, not the oppressed. On May 9, I was forcibly abducted from the court, an action later deemed unconstitutional and illegal by the Supreme Court. Dozens of our workers were martyred, hundreds were kidnapped, and thousands were arrested, with the sanctity of our homes violated. Businesses were destroyed merely due to political affiliations. In this context of fascism, an apology is owed to me and Tehreek-e-Insaaf.
My statement is being misrepresented. From the beginning, I have maintained that May 9 was a false flag operation, with CCTV footage disappearing to cover up the crime. I still demand that the CCTV footage be made public and a transparent investigation be conducted. Dr Yasmeen Rashid, representing Tehreek-e-Insaaf, can be heard in multiple videos instructing workers to remain peaceful, proving that no party leader intended to break the law. I always instruct my party and workers to protest peacefully, whether in cantonment areas or the GHQ, as the constitution grants us this right. If a transparent inquiry finds any Tehreek-e-Insaaf leader involved in arson or vandalism, they should be punished.
While incarcerated, I predict that the government will not last more than two months. The names of Nawaz Sharif, Shahbaz Sharif, and Asif Ali Zardari should be placed on the ECL to prevent them from fleeing. I am not seeking a deal; only those guilty seek deals. I have no illicit wealth or property and have fought all my cases. The cases against me and my wife were intended to dismantle PTI.
The willingness to negotiate should not be seen as a weakness. For me, Pakistan’s political and economic interests come first, and I support de-escalation. Negotiations will be conditional and only with the true decision-makers. The ruling elites are willing to compromise the country’s interests to maintain power. These manoeuvres tempt the army to destroy Tehreek-e-Insaaf, but eliminating a party representing 90% of the people is impossible. Those dreaming of this should learn from history.
Just as Western courts have allowed Israel to commit genocide against Palestinians, Qazi Faiz Eesa has allied with the state in oppressing us, supporting this fascism. We have long requested Qazi Faiz Isa’s recusal from my cases due to bias and injustice. His actions on February 8, stripping our party of the bat symbol, in cooperation with the PDM and the Election Commission, are well-known.
The Bengali people’s united and determined fight for their rights and democracy against an oppressive system is commendable. The Bengali Chief of Army Staff’s professional and non-political handling of the protests is a testament to his ethics. The Army, as a professional institution, and its Chief should remain non-political in such situations.
The army is a national institution that belongs to all of us, and we must all uphold its reputation. However, military leadership must prioritize its own reputation. Self-accountability is crucial. Former leaders, including Musharraf, labelled certain individuals as thieves, and the nation believed them. Yet, Musharraf granted these thieves an NRO and a subsequent NRO 2 was given, allowing them to manipulate laws and regain power despite electoral defeats. Supporting such rejected individuals damages the military’s public image. The leadership must be mindful of its public perception.
Amnesty and Abduction: The DG ISPR announced no amnesty for us on May 9. Our stance is that the oppressor, not the oppressed, seeks forgiveness. I was unlawfully abducted from court, with the Supreme Court later declaring this unconstitutional. Many of our workers were martyred, kidnapped, or arrested, homes were violated, and businesses were destroyed due to political affiliations. An apology is owed to me and Tehreek-e-Insaaf.
False Flag Operation: My statement on May 9 being a false flag operation is being taken out of context. I demand the release of CCTV footage and a transparent investigation. Our party leaders, including Dr Yasmeen Rashid, instructed peaceful protests. Any leader found guilty of vandalism should be punished.
Government Longevity: I predict the government will not last more than two months. Nawaz Sharif, Shahbaz Sharif, and Asif Ali Zardari should be placed on the ECL to prevent fleeing. I am not seeking a deal; only the guilty do. The cases against me and my wife aim to dismantle PTI.
Negotiations: Negotiating is not a sign of weakness. For Pakistan’s political and economic interests, I support de-escalation. Negotiations must be with true decision-makers. The ruling elites prioritize their power over the country’s interests, tempting the army to destroy Tehreek-e-Insaaf, which represents 90% of the people.
Judicial Bias: Qazi Faiz Eesa has allied with the state in oppressing us, similar to how Western courts permit Israel’s actions against Palestinians. We have long requested his recusal from my cases due to bias. His actions on February 8, removing our party’s symbol, show his cooperation with the PDM and the Election Commission.
Bengali Example: The Bengali people’s fight for rights and democracy is commendable, as is their Army Chief’s non-political handling of protests. The Army and its Chief should remain non-political in similar situations.
Army’s Reputation: The army is a national institution, and its reputation is crucial. Military leadership must practice self-accountability. Past leaders labelled certain individuals as thieves, only to later support them, damaging the army’s public image. Leadership must be mindful of its perception among the public.
