Pressure to Release Imran Khan Will Spark National Outcry: Senior PMLN Lead
Lahore: Senior PML-N leader Mian Javed Latif has warned that succumbing to external pressure to release PTI founder Imran Khan will lead to a nationwide reaction.
Speaking at a press conference in Lahore, Latif criticized the lack of attention to democracy during martial law eras and human rights violations in the past. “When martial law is imposed, no one remembers democracy. On this day, a national leader was martyred, yet no one spoke of human rights then,” he said.
He emphasized Pakistan’s sovereignty, stating, “We are a nuclear power and will not bow to international pressure. If anyone tries to dictate terms to us, we will stand united. We will embrace sacrifices but not compromise on our dignity.”
Latif questioned why the alleged pressure to release Imran Khan is not openly acknowledged, adding, “What do international forces want to achieve through him? While we may be politically divided, we are united in national pride. If any action is taken under pressure, the nation will rise.”
He criticized the selective accountability process, saying, “States cannot function by pardoning rebels and punishing minor offenders. Granting impunity to masterminds while punishing workers will not work. Civil disobedience is a graver crime than the events of May 9 and 10.”
Addressing the arrest of former ISI official Lt. Gen. Faiz Hameed, Latif said the public deserves transparency. “The nation must be told why Faiz Hameed was arrested. His attempted rebellion within the institution failed, and in any other country, such a plot would have been dealt with severely,” he said.
Latif reiterated his party’s commitment to preserving national dignity and sovereignty, rejecting any compromises in the face of external or internal pressures.4o
