Mian Javed Latif, a senior leader from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), stated that earlier public disclosure of the Hamoodur Rahman Commission Report could have prevented the incidents of May 9th.
While addressing the media in Lahore, Latif reflected on Imran Khan’s incarceration conditions, comparing them to those of a five-star hotel.
Latif recounted his experience of being confined in a drum during these months and his subsequent plea before the Chief Justice of Lahore High Court, Qasim Khan. He expressed that he faced criticism for his outspoken views against institutions and agencies and was met with extreme suggestions that he should have been stoned or should leave Pakistan if he found the restrictions unbearable.
He also touched on the imposition of curfews during his court appearances, questioning the legality and fairness of orchestrating the events of May 9th, which underscored the disparate treatment of individuals within the system.
Latif criticized the opacity surrounding the identities of those orchestrating such events, cautioning that it might lead to another similar incident. He called for dismissing all unwarranted legal actions against the founder of PTI. He voiced concerns over ongoing national debates concerning who is deemed popular or reasonable, even after 75 years of the country’s independence.
He pointed out the double standards in the justice system, noting the delayed acknowledgement of Bhutto’s unfair trial 45 years later and the decade it took for Nawaz Sharif to receive justice. In contrast, current similar acknowledgements are conspicuously absent.
Latif argued that the current calls for reconciliation in open court represent not a step forward but a moment of concern. He advocated for legal reforms prioritising the general public’s welfare over select individuals, highlighting the inconsistency in the legal treatment of crimes, where stealing a mobile phone is considered a severe offence, yet misappropriating 190 million pounds is not considered criminal.
