Imran khan slammed by former Interior Minister
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Following reports that incarcerated Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan enlisted a British lawyer to represent him in international courts, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Rana Sanaullah commented on Sunday, stating that "a puppet is being utilized to tarnish Pakistan's image on the global stage." The former minister expressed his concern that resorting to the International Court of Justice would effectively cast Pakistan as a criminal entity internationally.
He added, "This disgraceful act can only be orchestrated by those who harbor animosity towards Pakistan." On September 1, the PTI officially announced on its social media platform, X (formerly Twitter), that "PTI chairman and former PM Imran Khan has appointed the renowned human rights Barrister Geoffrey Robertson KC of Doughty Street Chambers to provide guidance and representation in international courts regarding unlawful detention and human rights violations."
A PTI source in Islamabad revealed that the decision to hire Robertson came after consultations with "key figures in the UK," following advice from Omar Ayub Khan, Zulfi Bukhari, and Khan's legal team in Pakistan. However, on September 2, PTI reversed its decision to retain Geoffrey Robertson KC due to a backlash and intense criticism in the media.
Doughty Street Chambers reported that PTI informed them of Robertson's services no longer being required due to criticism within Pakistan. In a recent statement, Sanaullah sarcastically remarked that the "privileged favorites" of the judicial system did not need to seek foreign assistance.
He questioned, "Who is financing Imran Niazi?" and alleged that those backing him were attempting to protect him, emphasizing how Khan had been elevated to hero status, received foreign funding, and gained power at the cost of Pakistan's economy and foreign relations.
Sanaullah also pointed out that rising inflation had paved the way for civil unrest, and he suggested that the youth were being radicalized to serve particular interests. Additionally, he mentioned that the occupants of Palestine and the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) celebrated upon hearing that Pakistan might face international legal proceedings.
Criticism arose in the media as soon as PTI announced Robertson's hiring, with concerns raised about the lawyer's involvement in campaigns against the Pakistani military and the propagation of false theories regarding the 1971 war and the separation of Bangladesh from Pakistan.
In August, PTI had previously announced the termination of engagements with UK solicitor Rashad Yaqoob, his organization Human Rights Legal Aid Foundation (HRLAF), and Azhar Siddique, a Pakistan Supreme Court lawyer based in Manchester.
