PESHAWAR: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf has expressed serious concern over the registration of cases against the party chairman Imran Khan under terrorism law and demanded of the Chief Justice of Pakistan to take notice of the FIRs registered against the former prime minister.

Speaking at a news conference at the Peshawar Press club on Wednesday, former provincial ministers Shaukat Yousufzai, Kamran Bangash and Taimur Saleem Jhagra also accused the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governor of using delaying tactics to implement the apex court order regarding announcement of the date for the provincial assembly elections.

They said false cases were registered against Imran Khan despite the fact that he had done nothing wrong.

“The Supreme Court orders are not being implemented and an attempt is being made to run away from the elections. The top court should take notice of the violation of the Constitution,” Mr Yousafzai said.

He alleged the governor was dragging feet on holding consultations with the election commission to announce the election date.

He claimed the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leadership was running a campaign against the judiciary under a well-thought-out plan.

Mr Yousufzai, who is also the PTI provincial spokesman, said if the election was not held within 90 days after dissolution of the assembly then it would be a violation of the Constitution.

On the occasion, Mr Jhagra described the delay in holding of the elections as a contempt of court.

He said there was no law and order in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, adding the province had sufficient security personnel to conduct the elections in a peaceful manner.

Published in Dawn, March 9th, 2023