PESHAWAR: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf central secretary information MNA Sheikh Waqqas Akram on Monday warned that trial of civilians in the military courts and possible conviction of incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan in the Al-Qadir Trust case would have negative impact on Pakistan’s economy.

“The European Union’s spokesperson has already expressed concern over the convictions of the PTI workers through military courts,” Mr Akram said while speaking at a press conference here.

“The EU spokesperson has also shown concern over the GSP-Plus status of Pakistan, which was achieved after years of hard work, lobbying and ensuring compliance to human rights and other international agreements. The violation of human rights and denial to fair trial is not only violation of the Constitution but also international laws and agreements like International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,” Sheikh Akram said and warned that such violations could affect the GSP-Plus status of Pakistan.

“With such violations the government is providing an opportunity to the international community to withdraw the GSP-Plus status from Pakistan,” he said.

Sheikh Waqas says nothing in Al-Qadir Trust case to punish Imran

“In a situation when the federal government claims of making efforts for improving the fragile economy, the developed countries and nations, who believe in human rights and fair trials, will definitely react to the denial of fair trial to Imran Khan and other PTI workers,” he said.

“The federal government is playing with the economy by violating the international treaties to which Pakistan is a signatory,” the PTI central secretary information said.

He said PTI would exhaust all legal options to provide justice to its workers being punished through military courts. “We will not allow the government to destroy the economy by violating international treaties.”

Commenting on the postponement of the verdict in the Al-Qadir Trust case, which was due to be announced on Monday, the PTI leader said that there was nothing in the case to award punishment to Imran Khan, and that was why it was postponed.

He insisted that the case was based on lies as Imran Khan had not gained any monetary benefit from the Al-Qadar Trust.

Mr Akram claimed that the family members of Anees Shehzad Satti, who was killed during the PTI protest in Islamabad on November 26, had been shifted to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as they were under immense pressure for filing a case in the court of law demanding registration of FIR.

“The family members were harassed and received threatening calls to withdraw their application,” he alleged.

“Two family members, including Naseer Satti, who is complainant in the case and first cousin of the father of Anees Satti, and his brother, stayed back in Islamabad for taking care of the house, but they were picked some days ago,” he alleged.

“On Monday, both of them appeared in court in the presence of people in plainclothes and withdrew their application,” he said.

Published in Dawn, December 24th, 2024