Senator Azam Swati of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) claimed on Saturday that his wife received a private video of the two of them from an “unknown number” as he broke down in tears while narrating the incident.
Azam Swati, who was detained on October 13 in connection with a case brought against him due to a controversial tweet, has claimed that he was tortured while in custody.
In his opening remarks at the press conference today, Swati cited an earlier media talk in which he had claimed that neither he had engaged in any corruption nor had anyone, including “powerful circles,” had any “immoral videos” of him.
“I was completely wrong,” he claimed, accusing elements within the establishment of being to blame for his ordeal.
Swati told reporters that his wife called him from Islamabad around 9 p.m. yesterday. He said she kept shouting and crying, and he had to ask his daughter to speak to his wife and find out what was wrong.
He continued at her insistence, revealing that someone had sent her a video of him from an unknown number. “I can’t say anything else because my country’s daughters and granddaughters are listening.”
The senator went on to say that his daughter, who was crying, told him that the video also included his wife.
“I asked her how it was possible,” the senator said, sobbing. He also stated that his daughter informed him that the video was taken during Swati and his wife’s visit to Quetta.
The senator recalled that visit and explained that Senate Chairperson Sadiq Sanjrani, who respected his wife, had arranged for them to stay at the Supreme Court’s judicial lodges in Quetta. “There, you (Sanjrani) set up protection for an elderly senator and your aunt (Swati’s wife). You then informed me that I should remain there since Quetta was devoid of any Supreme Court justices.
Again overcome by emotion, Swati bemoaned the fact that his wife had to leave the nation and relocate to a “safe place.” He lamented the fact that his granddaughters “had to leave the country with traumas and scars” as well.
Is this Pakistan, he said, “where the sanctity of a husband and wife [is not safe?]”
Swati had previously described his “custodial torture” on November 1, and this was the second time he had shared his account of an alleged ordeal.
PTI chief Imran Khan, who has previously condemned the alleged torture of Swati, tweeted after today’s press conference, “Pakistan was created on Islamic moral values of human dignity, family honour, and the inviolability of chadar and chardawari.”
