A court on Tuesday sought comments from Samanabad police by September 10 on an application seeking registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan over his controversial remarks against the Pakistan Army leadership during a speech in Faisalabad.
Additional District and Sessions Judge Ghulam Hussain Bhinder passed the order on a plea filed by Sheikh Muzaffar Hussain under Sections 22-A and 22-B of the CrPC against the Samanabad station house officer (SHO).
“Let comments from the SP investigation/additional district complaint officer… be called for 10-09-2022, subject to provision of separate copy of petition, along with application for registration of [a] case by the petitioner,” read a short order passed by the sessions judge.
The move came after Imran, while addressing a gathering in Faisalabad, had said that the coalition government was stalling the general elections as they wanted to “appoint an army chief of their own choice”.
He had claimed that PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif jointly wanted to appoint a “favorite” general as the next army chief, adding that they “both feared a strong and patriotic army chief who could hold them accountable for the looted money they had stashed abroad”.
The PTI chairman had said that a new army chief was going to be appointed in November this year, pointing out that Zardari and Nawaz had committed corruption worth billions and now they wanted to appoint an army chief who could protect them and their corruption.
The coalition government and the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) reacted to the speech, which prompted Imran to respond to the criticism. “Am following intense propaganda launched by PDM cabal of crooks against me.This stems from their being petrified of PTI’s soaring popularity. Today in Peshawar jalsa I will give proper reply to all those who have deliberately been distorting my words to malign me.Enough is enough,” he said in a tweet.
Complainant Sheikh Muzaffar Hussain had earlier approached the Lahore capital city police officer (CCPO) seeking registration of a case against Imran. However, the CCPO office did not pay heed towards the plea, after which he approached the sessions court against the police officers.
The complainant said in his plea before the Lahore CCPO, “The words of accused Imran Khan were against the Pakistan Army.” He submitted Imran implied that the incumbent COAS was not a patriotic army chief, but the fact is that every officer of the Pakistan Army – from a soldier to the chief of army staff – is patriotic. “The officers of the army sacrificed their lives for Pakistan. The whole nation is not just proud of the Pakistan Army but also loves it,” said the complainant.
He also accused Imran Khan of causing “revolt” within the institution of army by uttering such “controversial words” during his speech in Faisalabad.
“Such words may come from anti-state elements,” said Hussain, adding that the PTI chairman through his words not only proved that he was an enemy of the country but also hurt sentiments of Pakistanis.
The complainant said Imran made an attempt to spread anarchy and his words were tantamount to committing “sedition” against the country. He asked the Lahore police chief to order the station house officer (SHO) of Samanabad area to register an FIR under sedition charges.
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