New Delhi: Former Pakistan Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan Monday accused the country’s security forces of human rights violations, as well as of harassing women during “middle of the night” raids.
He also alleged vandalism and robbing of houses by the forces, adding, “We used to hear about such grave violations of human rights in Indian-occupied Kashmir but never imagined this would be happening here”.
“Women are abused, harassed and threatened and if the person is not there, then their boys, fathers and even servants are picked up and jailed,” Khan claimed in a tweet.
He added: “My sisters driver and cook Rahim were picked up when the police couldn’t find her son. Both were jailed where they were packed like sardines. (sic)”.
Whenever our Holy Prophet (PBUH) would go for battle, there were strict instructions that women, children and elders were not to be harmed. Today, our own security forces are raiding our houses in the middle of the night, breaking doors, vandalising the house and robbing it.…
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) June 12, 2023
Claiming that Rahim, the cook, “suffered breathing problems and since his release he has been on the ventilator fighting for his life,” Khan wrote, “Clearly those who are responsible for this reign of terror feel they are above law”.
He added: “While this policy might have temporarily spread fear amongst the people, it’s only a matter of time before this seething hatred comes out in the open.”
Khan, who was ousted as Pakistan’s PM after losing a confidence vote last year, was briefly arrested in May this year on corruption charges. The arrest had led to widespread violence and unrest.
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Claims and counterclaims
The Pakistan military had earlier this month reportedly said it will punish the “planners and masterminds” of last month’s violence. It had also denied allegations of torture and physical abuse of PTI leaders made by Khan.
Day’s before, Khan on his part had reportedly accused the military of trying to destroy his party, and said he had no doubt he would be tried in a military court and imprisoned.
Meanwhile, the country’s foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has been quoted in an interview as saying that the PTI chief’s problems with the Pakistani Army began only when the establishment declared it would no longer take his side in politics.
The foreign minister had added that Khan’s “issue with the army in Pakistan is not that they’re involved in politics; his problem with the army is they’re not getting involved to support him”.
(Edited by Poulomi Banerjee)
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