ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership and the visiting delegation of Commonwealth Wednesday discussed strengthening of democracy, electoral institutions and safeguarding human rights in Pakistan.
The PTI leaders informed the delegation about the alleged denial of their constitutional and legal rights by the incumbent government and decried the world community’s silence over it.
A delegation, led by Commonwealth Secretary General Patricia Scotland, called on PTI leadership at the Parliament House. A spokesman for the PTI said their party representatives highlighted that the members of their party and their families including women and children, continue to face relentless persecution, harassment, abuse, custodial torture and fake cases, as the coalition government wanted to stifle their voices and change their loyalties from Imran Khan to ‘kleptocratic’ dynasties. They emphasized that the mandate of the people of Pakistan deserves protection and respect as core democratic value.
The PTI members conveyed their grave concerns regarding the current political climate in Pakistan. They detailed instances of intimidation, being faced by the opposition, manipulation of election results, and the resulting erosion of public trust in the electoral process and legitimacy of the government.
These issues, they stressed, severely weaken the democratic institutions of Pakistan. The PTI representatives also expressed their distress over the international community’s silence during periods when PTI leaders and workers, particularly women and children, faced horrific abuse, persecution, torture, and intimidation.
They urged for a stronger global stance against such violations to protect democratic principles and human rights. They stressed that the international community must not remain silent in the face of persecution and suppression of the opposition, as it threatens the democratic values peoples collectively uphold.
The PTI members underscored that the judiciary remains a solitary beacon of hope in ensuring democratic restoration in Pakistan and must operate independently without fear of intelligence agencies’ interference and pressures on the working of the judiciary.
The party spokesman said Patricia Scotland pledged Commonwealth’s unwavering support in bolstering Pakistan’s democratic framework. She highlighted the Commonwealth’s dedication to work collaboratively with all governments, administrations and opposition within Pakistan.
Meanwhile, the interior ministry cancelled the visa of US-British journalist Charles Glass, who came to Pakistan to meet PTI founder Imran Khan, and sent him back to his home country, the ministry sources said. The authorities picked the foreign journalist from his residence in Islamabad and took him to the Islamabad airport for sending him out of Pakistan.
Charles Glass had emailed Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, requesting permission to meet PTI founder Imran Khan who has been detained in Adiala jail.
Glass had informed the interior minister in the email that he was not allowed to meet the former prime minister Imran Khan. The British journalist is also a friend of Imran Khan and came to Pakistan to meet him.
The sources, quoting an intelligence agency report, claimed that the British journalist came to Pakistan on the request of jailed former PM with the assignment to interview him according to his desire.
British HC confirmed it’s in contact with authorities to ensure journalist’s safety.
Inspector General of Prisons Punjab said that Glass accompanied Aleema Khan to Adiala jail. He said Aleema told the jail authorities Glass wanted to witness Imran Khan case hearing and asked them to allow him entry into the jail. The jail authorities declined the request because Glass’s name was not on the list of persons allowed to attend the hearing.
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