Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senior party officials have come forward with video statements, recorded under oath, to firmly deny allegations suggesting that their Chairman, Imran Khan, urged them to assault state institutions or military installations on May 9.
The initiative to release these videos stemmed from concerns over a supposed “nefarious plan” to circulate fabricated statements against the PTI chairman. As reported by The News, this tactic is feared to be used in scenarios where PTI leaders might be arrested, subjected to coercion, and then pressured into providing false testimonies.
PTI Secretary General Omar Ayub Khan emphasized in his statement that PTI and its chairman’s primary objective has always been the betterment and success of Pakistan. He warned that any other video content contrary to this publicly recorded statement could be counterfeit, produced under coercive circumstances.
Clarifying Stances on Peace and Lawfulness
Numerous PTI leaders reaffirmed their commitment to peace and nation-building in their respective statements. For instance, Omar Ayub highlighted that any actions he might undertake post any potential “enforced disappearance” or arrest would not be under the chairman’s instructions to inflict harm on any government or state institution. PTI members, he stated, were staunch patriots, advocating for the “rule of law” in Pakistan.
Likewise, Ali Amin Gandapur, PTI Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa President, and Hammad Azhar, PTI Secretary General Central Punjab, vehemently denied receiving any directives from Khan encouraging illegal or violent activities.
Haleem Adil Shaikh, PTI Sindh President, went further, swearing on the holy Qur’an that Imran Khan never incited the party members to attack private or public entities.
Concluding Remarks by PTI Officials
Other leaders, such as Firdous Shamim Naqvi, Ali Nawaz Awan, Syed Zulfiqar Bukhari, and Brigadier (retd) Musaddiq Abbasi, unanimously vouched for Imran Khan’s dedication to law, peace, and constitution. They rejected claims that Khan ever promoted violent actions or unjust treatment.