Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar has made a solemn commitmentthat those responsible for the May 9 attacks will not be spared,emphasizing that the law applies equally to all, including PakistanTehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and his supporters.
The interim prime minister conveyed this message during an address tostudents at Oxford University’s Oxford Union and in discussions withPakistani media upon concluding his rapid tour of the US and UK.
“We are dedicated to conducting fair elections, granting the PTI a levelplaying field in those elections. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP)has the authority to determine the election date, and we will adhere to itwithout question,” PM Kakar stressed.
Regarding inquiries about several PTI leaders and the former primeminister facing serious charges of arson, terrorism, and the state of humanrights and media freedoms, he noted that individuals in custody or facingprosecution have been involved in acts like vandalism, arson, and thedestruction of public property.
Such actions, in any civilized society, would warrant legal charges. Thecaretaker prime minister reaffirmed that there would be no preferentialtreatment for Imran Khan and the PTI, emphasizing that the law appliesimpartially to all citizens.
Read Top Stories
He emphasized that no one is above the law, and political motives shouldnot be allowed to manipulate the legal system. He expressed regret that thePTI did not choose to participate in parliamentary politics, stating, “Hadthey engaged in parliamentary politics, Imran Khan would have been thecurrent opposition leader.”
PM Kakar acknowledged that press freedom faces challenges in variouscountries, including India and Pakistan, but he assured that criticism isopenly voiced in the Pakistani press. He emphasized that there is no effortto control or influence the media, asserting that media freedom in Pakistanis not being suppressed.
While acknowledging some civil and military imbalances in Pakistan, PremierKakar argued that the widespread criticism of the Pakistan Army isdisproportionate and often based on unverified information. He highlightedthe prevalence of hearsay in contemporary criticism.
