The Sindh Assembly has urged the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to initiate a high treason resolution under Article 6 of the Constitution against PTI leader Imran Khan.
The call comes following the recent arrest of Imran Khan over corruption allegations by the NAB from the Islamabad High Court (IHC). The arrest has sparked violent protests and attacks by PTI workers, resulting in six deaths, and nearly 1,500 arrests of PTI leaders and workers across the country.
Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah (Sindh):
while speaking on a resolution condemning the violence and attacks by PTI workers, called for PTI leaders to take action against Imran Khan in the same way that MQM lawmakers did against Altaf Hussain.
The Chief Minister also assured the assembly that all perpetrators involved in the Karachi violence would be arrested and that no one involved in the attacks would be spared.
The resolution, which was adopted unanimously, condemned the violence perpetrated by PTI workers at the behest of their leaders and demanded complete protection for people and their properties.
The government was also urged to take strict action against anyone who violates the law.
Despite the unrest, the Chief Minister did not share details of the government’s strategy but assured the assembly that the government has asked police and law enforcement agencies to initiate a crackdown against the party.
Notably, the PTI chief’s arrest came a day after the military warned him against making “baseless allegations” after he accused a senior intelligence officer of plotting to kill him.
Article 245
In view of the unrest, the federal cabinet approved the deployment of the Pakistan Army under Article 245 of the Constitution in Punjab, K-P, and the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) on the recommendation of the interior ministry.
Additionally, the ICT has also arrested PTI leaders, including its vice president Shah Mehmood Qureshi, for “inciting arson and violent protests under a plan for threatening peace.”
Sindh Assembly session
During the session, all PTI seats were empty, and no one from the party’s camp was present in the session. MQM lawmakers suggested an amendment to book Imran Khan under Article 6 and file a case of high treason against him.
While pointing at the deserted PTI seats, CM Murad Ali Shah said, “For me, it’s very difficult to lodge a high treason case against a political leader, but we will support it if it comes through a PTI lawmaker who, being a patriotic Pakistani, can come forward as MQM’s Sardar Ahmed had done against his leader, Altaf Hussain, after his hate speech in September 2016.
Protests Shake Pakistan After Imran’s Arrest
The Chief Minister also took note of the PTI protestors’ attack on Lahore Corps Commander Lt-Gen Salman Fayyaz Ghani’s residence and other military installations, including General Headquarters (GHQ).
The PTI alleges political persecution against their leader, but the IHC declared that Imran’s arrest from the court’s premises was carried out legally. Imran was accused of looting Rs50 billion from the national treasury, along with a property tycoon, and getting the Al-Qadir University Trust registered on 450-kanal of land.
