DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Faisal Karim Kundi on Saturday said Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chairman Imran Khan had the constitutional right to challenge his conviction in the Toshakhana case either in any high court or the Supreme Court.

Talking to Dawn here, he said the court had convicted Imran on the basis of evidence, declaring him not truthful and honest.

He said: “Pakistani courts were independent and Imran Khan had been punished for his misdeeds.”

He said a convicted person couldn’t also remain as the party head.

On a query about general elections, he said the PPP had a very clear stance that the polls should be held on time. About the caretaker prime minister, he said consultations were underway among the allied parties on the matter.

Condemning the Bajaur blast, Mr Kundi said action should be taken against those who had brought the terrorists back to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from Afghanistan.

He also condemned the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa caretaker government’s decision to ban political gatherings and processions and termed it against the democratic norms. He also condemned the police raid on the residence of PTI leader Ali Amin Gandapur.

Earlier, addressing the launch ceremony of Benazir Social Protection Accounts here, Mr Kundi said the Benazir Income Support Programme payments to beneficiaries were made more transparent through the new disbursement mechanism of transferring money through bank accounts.

He bank cards were introduced with the efforts of Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari as there were complaints regarding deduction of amounts by the retailers. “Now the payment facility through bank accounts was being provided in seven districts.” He said it was a pilot project, and the facility would be provided at all the banks across the country.

He said distribution of Benazir cards to the transgender persons in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had also started.

Published in Dawn, Aug 6th, 2023