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| PTI workers handed over to the army: 'The state should reform the youth, not turn them into terrorists |
The cases of more than 30 Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) activists across the country were approved after the approval of action under the Army Act and the Official Secrets Act against those allegedly 'involved' in attacks on military installations and property on May 9. They have been handed over to the courts, on which their families are deeply concerned.
Although human rights organizations have strongly opposed the military trial of civilians, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said in a press conference on Friday that the 33 accused have been handed over to the army, who were killed in sensitive military installations. Broke and vandalized. According to him, these persons will be punished by military courts under military laws.
The families of those arrested on charges of vandalism and violent protests that took place after the arrest of PTI chief Imran Khan on May 9 are facing a painful situation these days.
On the one hand, they are facing the police investigation officers investigating these serious charges, while on the other hand, they are going around the courts for the release of their children.
In an interview given to France 24 on Friday night, Imran Khan said that the purpose of trying cases in military courts is to destroy PTI because it is difficult to get convictions on false charges in ordinary courts. Military courts mean the end of our democracy.
In recent days, an incident echoed on social media when a youth named Hasher Durrani, who was allegedly involved in the incidents of vandalism and arson that took place in Lahore on May 9, was handed over to a military court.
While issuing a notification of action against him in a military court, a social media user said that he has been handed over to the army for action under the Army Act. He was educated in computer science and was doing a well-paid job in the Punjab government.
While Hasher Durrani had also mentioned his difficulties in a series of tweets before his arrest.
He tweeted on May 20 and wrote, "Put yourself in my place and think." I am devastated. The phone is switched off, the place has to be changed every day, friends look at the door and say that there are guests at home, then come, I work with VPN. Every day the police raids the house two or three times. Two days later, the mother is spoken to. And the party says that we are not their workers.
Apart from this, he mentioned his difficulties in a series of tweets and complained about the party's failure to come to his aid.
"There is doomsday in our house, the state is like a mother, forgive the children"
The BBC spoke to Advocate Junaid Razak, the father of Arzam Junaid, another youth who was handed over to the army like Hasher, and he said that his 23-year-old son is very obedient and the day he was arrested on the 15th. He was selected for the district team at the trials at Din Gaddafi Stadium.
He said that the atmosphere of our house is one of reading and writing, I am an advocate, my elder daughter is a doctor, the arrested son is a graduate and the mother is also educated.
He criticized the PTI leadership saying that his son had reached Liberty on May 9 for a peaceful protest in love with a political leader, from where the party leadership incited the youth and took them to the cantonment.
According to him, without a transparent investigation and without knowing that the intention of other youths, including his son, was not criminal. "Proceeding cases under the Army Act and holding a civil court-martial is unjust."
Advocate Junaid Razak said that according to the information he received, his son had shouted slogans against the Pakistan Army and these slogans were being raised in the rally, in which he made this mistake due to emotion.
He said that although he admits that his son was present with the PTI flag at the time of the attack on the Corps Commander's house, he insists that he was involved in some act of vandalism and arson. did not take
Advocate Junaid says that he is very ashamed of his son Arzam Junaid's use of harsh language against Pakistan's army and leadership during the rally and apologizes.
But he said that if a person or a family who has no criminal record is court-martialed for such a small mistake, it will be a great abuse.
He said while being saddened that 'the status of the state is that of a mother, she shows compassion and reform.'
He said that the state should reform the youth and not make them terrorists.
Junaid Razak said that he as a lawyer has read the Army Act and it "does not apply here, it is unconstitutional and illegal."
We are helpless. There is nothing we can do. I can request, we can apologize.'
"Mother's condition is very bad, father goes around the police station and courts every day"
The Anti-Terrorism Court in Mardan has approved the trial of six persons in military courts under the Army Act.
The families of these six people are wondering what will happen to them now. According to lawyers, the father of one of the arrested youths is currently in a state of shock, unable to speak even though he is physically present at the scene but appears to have lost his mind.
According to lawyers, there is fear in the village from which one is arrested. "People are afraid to even talk about it."
When BBC correspondent Azizullah spoke to the brother of an arrested youth, he said, "Stop the mother's tears."
The situation is bad, my father and uncle visit the police and sometimes the courts every day, but nothing is known so far.
He said that his brother must have reached there (near the military installations) but it was not his fault because everything was vandalized when he arrived. "Brother arrived there very late, but someone made a video there in which the brother arrived and he was arrested later."
He said that everyone in the house is worried. Bhai was engaged two months ago, not yet married and he is the eldest among us all. Sisters and brothers are younger.
This situation is such that they do not understand what to do, this is the first time they have faced such a situation.
He said that he and his family all condemn the vandalism and the action that took place on May 9 and May 10.
When he was told that his brother's case has been given in the military courts, he said that he requested that the case be in the civil court and he hoped that justice would be done to him and that his brother would remain. Will come home.
According to the lawyers, around 120 people are currently arrested in Mardan alone. Similarly, arrests have been made in Peshawar and other areas of the province.
Did PTI provide any support or help during this time?
In response to this question, Junaid Razzak says, "I have been running for the release of my son for the last twelve days with your help." Some colleagues in the Lahore High Court expressed sympathy but apart from that no help or cooperation was given by anyone.
He said that PTI did not give any kind of support or help. We were contacted neither legally nor ethically.
They say that they are trying to get the son released in the courts with your help and deliver food to him in jail. But now I don't know where he has gone, whether he will get food or not. (It is feared that) he is not being tortured.
He alleged that on the first night of his son's arrest, he was severely tortured by the police.
Junaid Razzaq Abdida says that his son shouted the next morning of his arrest and said, "Daddy, I was holding the party flag and got emotional and just abused it, I am not a criminal."
He said in a full voice, "There is a doomsday in our house, I think I will have a nervous breakdown."
He says that when the incident happened, 'I immediately went to the Corps Commander's House to look for my son and as a lawyer told everyone what a folly he had done, you know how serious the consequences would be. '
In response to a question, he said that the political leadership of PTI is responsible for all this. He said that 'political leaders have spoiled Imran Khan's 27-year political struggle by inciting the youth.'
He said that the entire leadership of PTI is fully responsible for this incident. They should not have taken the youth there. In what capacity did they take them there, what was their purpose and plan?'
Is the law in the country not equal for all?
While on the one hand, civilian workers have been approved to be sentenced to civil court martial by military courts under the Army Act, there is also a question that some PTI politicians after the events of May 9 and being released from the courts, are the party. They hold a press conference about quitting and going home, but why is there no exception for ordinary party workers.
Speaking about this, Advocate Junaid Razzaq said, "This is very wrong, it is an abuse of young workers belonging to the common and middle class."
They say that the state's approach to the incident is illegal, immoral, and inhumane. "These young people are short-sighted and unknowingly got emotional and went there. They are the future of the nation. If they will not be forgiven but will be forgiven those people who took these youths there based on the press conference, then it is abuse.
Talking about this, journalist and analyst Majid Nizami also wrote in a tweet that if the seriousness and sensitivity of the violent incidents of May 9 are so high, then everyone should be brought to book under the constitution and law.
Under what law is it happening that those who separate from the party in the press conference, all their stains are washed away, they are released. Since when did the standard of justice become a press conference?
In this regard, Majid Nizami told BBC correspondent Tarhab Asghar that 'these political leaders have been told that in these circumstances you should decide whether to remain associated with PTI or not, after which they should leave the party. Apologies are being given after showing indifference.'
Describing it as state oppression and injustice, he said that the requirements of justice are not being met because the common worker is not being provided this opportunity. '
"State repression is not against Tehreek-e-Insaaf, but it seems that it is being done against justice."