Summary:
- PTI leader Omar Ayub urges institutions to adhere to constitutional limits and criticizes the treatment of party members.
- Imran Khan claims innocence for PTI’s involvement in the May 9 riots and plans to seek court action for evidence.
- Shah Mahmood Qureshi calls for reduced political hostility and acknowledges PTI’s enduring influence despite legal challenges.
In Lahore on August 10, 2024, PTI Secretary General Omar Ayub called for all state institutions to operate within their constitutional limits, emphasizing that the armed forces and intelligence agencies are state employees. Ayub’s comments reflect ongoing tensions since the May 9, 2023, riots triggered by the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan.
Khan, who has been imprisoned for over a year, has reiterated his openness to dialogue within constitutional bounds and has expressed willingness to apologize if PTI members were found responsible for the May 9 unrest. He also criticized accusations against his party, claiming they were wrongly labeled as terrorists for their peaceful protests.
Ayub revealed that Khan plans to request CCTV footage of the May 9 events from the court and reiterated that no deals have been made with other parties. He accused the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and Pakistan Peoples Party of attempting to create divisions between the nation and the military.
Ayub also predicted upcoming elections and stressed the need for an independent Election Commission of Pakistan. His views align with Khan’s statement that the current government is struggling and nearing its end.
In a separate statement, PTI leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi defended his party’s stance, highlighting the surge in legal cases against him since May 9. He called for an end to the political hostility, urging leaders to cease labeling their opponents as traitors and to recognize the enduring presence of PTI in Pakistan’s political landscape.
