MP’s demand, case on Imran
The Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly of Pakistan, Raja Riaz Ahmed Khan, made a strange demand on Monday. Not only did he criticize the court’s decisions that granted bail to Imran, but also demanded that the former PM be hanged in front of everyone. His words were something like this, ‘Imran Khan should be hanged in front of everyone. But the courts are welcoming him as if he is their son-in-law. Apart from this demand, a case has also been registered against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran under section 59, 60 of the Pakistan Army Act. The trial of this case will be in the military court. If convicted in a case registered under this act, one gets either death sentence or life imprisonment.
Uproar due to Imran’s arrest
Last week, when former PM Imran Khan was arrested from the Islamabad High Court, his supporters went berserk. There was a state of disturbance in Lahore, Karachi, Rawalpindi, Peshawar and in every part of the country. Attacks on the army were also going on. The Army Headquarters in Rawalpindi was ransacked and the Corps Commander’s house in Lahore was also burnt down. It seemed that history was repeating itself. The situation was similar in the late 1970s as well. At that time, General Zia ul-Haq took command as the head of the Pakistan Army. As soon as he became a general, the then PM Zulfikar Ali Bhutto started stinging in Zia’s eyes.
Bhutto’s dangerous decision
On March 1, 1976, Bhutto took a decision after which Three Star Lieutenant General Zia became the Army Chief. Zia was now a one-star rank army officer for whom Bhutto had bypassed six senior officers. His appointment generated fierce controversy. Bhutto felt that Zia was a fanatical religious general and an army officer who had no interest in politics. This proved to be his biggest mistake. Zia had come to know the weakness of Bhutto and his government.
Betrayed with Bhutto!
Bhutto used to trust Zia blindly. The General took advantage of this and on July 5, 1977, martial law was imposed in the country. His rule started from here. Bhutto often referred to Zia as ‘Monkey General’. Because of Zia’s height and her face, she was given this name by Bhutto. A year after becoming the army chief, Zia proved all the apprehensions to be true. On July 5, 1977, there was a coup in the country. Bhutto’s favorite Army Chief General Zia-ul-Haq had ousted him from power. General Zia arrested Bhutto and put him in jail. After this, on 18 December 1978, Bhutto was convicted of murder. On 4 April 1979, Bhutto was hanged in Rawalpindi’s Central Jail.
Former PM got hanged
If we look at today’s situation, Imran himself has said that General Asim Munir is harboring enmity against him. The enmity between Imran and General Munir is not a new thing. There is tension between them since the year 2019. In October 2018, General Munir was made the ISI chief. But in June 2019 itself, he was removed from this post. At that time Imran was the Prime Minister of the country. Even today the situation is more or less the same. Only time will decide what will be Imran’s future. But the world still remembers how a former PM was crucified in this country without proving his innocence.