On Friday, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers announced their decision to appeal the prison sentences given to Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi in the £190 million corruption case. PTI representatives also pledged to stage a joint protest rally involving members from all four provincial assemblies and the Senate.
In the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Assembly, PTI Members of the Provincial Assembly (MPAs) protested against the court ruling by displaying banners and holding pictures of Imran Khan. During the session, chaired by Speaker Babar Saleem Swati, treasury member Shafiq Jan requested a suspension of the routine agenda to discuss the matter.
Shafiq Jan criticized the judicial system, claiming it had a history of controversial decisions. Law Minister Aftab Alam also condemned the 14-year sentence for Imran Khan and the seven-year sentence for Bushra Bibi, arguing that the justice system was flawed and selectively targeted politicians. He attributed the country’s challenges to a lack of accountability within key institutions, urging the public to challenge the system.
Ahmed Karim Kundi, the parliamentary leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), remarked that the verdict was unsurprising, given the judiciary’s history of contentious decisions. He recalled PTI’s earlier support for military courts, suggesting a shift in stance when facing political adversity. Kundi called for unity among political parties to strengthen democratic institutions and resolve conflicts through dialogue.
Maulana Lutfur Rehman, the parliamentary leader of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI), emphasized Imran Khan’s right to appeal and denounced any judicial action perceived as politically motivated. He advocated for thoughtful discussions and criticized the use of derogatory language in political discourse, urging adherence to parliamentary decorum.
