Former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan termed his arrest on Saturday in the Toshakhana case part of the 'London Plan' as his party started mobilizing to protest the arrest.
Imran, who was arrested by police from his Zaman Park mansion in Lahore, posted a video message which had been recorded earlier.
"My arrest was expected, and I had recorded this message before my arrest," the PTI's official Twitter account said while posting the video message.
"It is one more step in fulfilling the London Plan," he stated before urging his followers and party workers to remain "peaceful, steadfast and strong".
In the video, Imran started off with a request and appeal to his followers: "You must not sit quietly at home."
"My struggle is not for myself; I am doing it for my nation; my struggle is for you, for the future of your children," he stated, adding that if people do not stand up for their rights, they will forever live as slaves, and slaves have no life.
"Slaves are like ants crawling on the ground, and they do never take flight," he stated.
He added that Pakistan was built as a dream where citizens do not have to bow to any man.
"Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in his state of Medina had freed slaves by giving them justice," he stated in a hark back to his mantra of creating a state of Medina in Pakistan whilst in power.
"This is the fight for your rights, your freedom."
Imran reminded his followers that no one will give them freedom on a platter.
"I have always said that shackles never fall off your hands onto the floor. You have to break them," he said, urging his followers to keep on protesting peacefully until you they get their right to vote for a government of their choice rather than allowing usurpers to grab hold.
https://twitter.com/ImranKhanPTI/status/1687759398423121922
Earlier, terming the sentence as delivered in a "kangaroo trial", a PTI spokesperson said that an attempt has been made to put justice to the sword by a biased judge. They added that evidence was disregarded and viewed from coloured lenses.
"A trial was conducted in an incompetent manner while disregarding legal principles to arrive at a verdict against democracy," the statement said.
It added that the verdict was a disappointing effort in the ploy to achieve 'level playing field' as per the London plan.
Rejecting the verdict as a blatant effort to politically target Imran and that they will never submit to state excesses in such a way.
https://twitter.com/PTIofficial/status/1687738092470325248
PTI core committee to meet today
PTI Senior Vice President Shah Mahmood Qureshi, in a separate video message on Saturday, said that in the aftermath of the party chief's arrest, the party's core committee will meet later in the day to evolve a future course of action.
"Many have termed the verdict by the district and sessions court to convict Imran Khan to be against the spirit of the law and constitution," he said, adding that Imran Khan's fundamental right to a fair trial under Article 10-A was not upheld.
"I am aware of your sentiments and emotions, he said, urging PTI supporters to keep their struggle for Imran's freedom going.
"The legal fight, as well as the political struggle, must go on, but in a peaceful manner," he said.
Qureshi said that while being arrested, PTI Chairman Imran Khan had given clear instructions for peaceful protests and that these instructions must be kept in mind while moving forward.
Qureshi said that he has spoken to some other senior leaders of the party, and a meeting of the party's core committee has been summoned to finalize their future strategy and course of action.
He was clear that workers could protest peacefully without taking the law into their hands and without causing damage to public property.
https://twitter.com/PTIofficial/status/1687776995558502400
Protests
Meanwhile, PTI supporters started holding small protests across the country, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and outside Imran's Lahore home.
In the protest outside Zaman Park, shortly after the police motorcade departed, at least two people were arrested.
In a voice message by PTI's General Secretary for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ali Ashgar, he said that per instructions from the party chief, flash protests should be held with no more than 50-100 people in each gathering.
"Protest for 20-30 minutes, and then move on, do not block roads or damage property," he urged workers.
Meanwhile, the party has also reached out to its overseas supporters to protest outside Pakistani diplomatic mission. In one message, PTI supporters have been asked to gather outside the Pakistani high commission in London and protest.
https://twitter.com/PTIofficial/status/1687765932234407936
Imran, who was arrested by police from his Zaman Park mansion in Lahore, posted a video message which had been recorded earlier.
"My arrest was expected, and I had recorded this message before my arrest," the PTI's official Twitter account said while posting the video message.
"It is one more step in fulfilling the London Plan," he stated before urging his followers and party workers to remain "peaceful, steadfast and strong".
In the video, Imran started off with a request and appeal to his followers: "You must not sit quietly at home."
"My struggle is not for myself; I am doing it for my nation; my struggle is for you, for the future of your children," he stated, adding that if people do not stand up for their rights, they will forever live as slaves, and slaves have no life.
"Slaves are like ants crawling on the ground, and they do never take flight," he stated.
He added that Pakistan was built as a dream where citizens do not have to bow to any man.
"Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in his state of Medina had freed slaves by giving them justice," he stated in a hark back to his mantra of creating a state of Medina in Pakistan whilst in power.
"This is the fight for your rights, your freedom."
Imran reminded his followers that no one will give them freedom on a platter.
"I have always said that shackles never fall off your hands onto the floor. You have to break them," he said, urging his followers to keep on protesting peacefully until you they get their right to vote for a government of their choice rather than allowing usurpers to grab hold.
https://twitter.com/ImranKhanPTI/status/1687759398423121922
Earlier, terming the sentence as delivered in a "kangaroo trial", a PTI spokesperson said that an attempt has been made to put justice to the sword by a biased judge. They added that evidence was disregarded and viewed from coloured lenses.
"A trial was conducted in an incompetent manner while disregarding legal principles to arrive at a verdict against democracy," the statement said.
It added that the verdict was a disappointing effort in the ploy to achieve 'level playing field' as per the London plan.
Rejecting the verdict as a blatant effort to politically target Imran and that they will never submit to state excesses in such a way.
https://twitter.com/PTIofficial/status/1687738092470325248
PTI core committee to meet today
PTI Senior Vice President Shah Mahmood Qureshi, in a separate video message on Saturday, said that in the aftermath of the party chief's arrest, the party's core committee will meet later in the day to evolve a future course of action.
"Many have termed the verdict by the district and sessions court to convict Imran Khan to be against the spirit of the law and constitution," he said, adding that Imran Khan's fundamental right to a fair trial under Article 10-A was not upheld.
"I am aware of your sentiments and emotions, he said, urging PTI supporters to keep their struggle for Imran's freedom going.
"The legal fight, as well as the political struggle, must go on, but in a peaceful manner," he said.
Qureshi said that while being arrested, PTI Chairman Imran Khan had given clear instructions for peaceful protests and that these instructions must be kept in mind while moving forward.
Qureshi said that he has spoken to some other senior leaders of the party, and a meeting of the party's core committee has been summoned to finalize their future strategy and course of action.
He was clear that workers could protest peacefully without taking the law into their hands and without causing damage to public property.
https://twitter.com/PTIofficial/status/1687776995558502400
Protests
Meanwhile, PTI supporters started holding small protests across the country, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and outside Imran's Lahore home.
In the protest outside Zaman Park, shortly after the police motorcade departed, at least two people were arrested.
In a voice message by PTI's General Secretary for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ali Ashgar, he said that per instructions from the party chief, flash protests should be held with no more than 50-100 people in each gathering.
"Protest for 20-30 minutes, and then move on, do not block roads or damage property," he urged workers.
Meanwhile, the party has also reached out to its overseas supporters to protest outside Pakistani diplomatic mission. In one message, PTI supporters have been asked to gather outside the Pakistani high commission in London and protest.
https://twitter.com/PTIofficial/status/1687765932234407936