PDM calls for action against ‘PTI attack on judicial complex’

• Multi-party huddle condemns smear campaign against state intuitions.
• Attacks on law enforcers on Imran’s order ‘unacceptable’, PDM says.
• ‘Two different standards of justice aren’t acceptable in one country.’

The Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) — a 13-party ruling alliance — on Monday called for strict action against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf  (PTI) for its alleged attack on the Federal Judicial Complex and the security personnel during the party’s chairman Imran Khan’s appearance before a local court in the Toshakhana case.

Ahead of the PTI chief's appearance before the court of Additional Sessions Judge Zafar Iqbal on March 18, fierce clashes erupted between PTI supporters and the security personnel. Khan had claimed that the government planned either to assassinate or arrest him inside the judicial complex.

According to an official statement, the decision was made during a six-hour-long meeting of the heads of the component parties of the PDM with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in the chair.

The high-level huddle was summoned after the premier's meeting with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senior Vice President Maryam Nawaz in Lahore. 

Officials, privy to the meeting, said that Maryam held a detailed meeting with PM Shehbaz and discussed the party’s future strategy to deal with the PTI chairman.

In its declaration, the ruling alliance strongly condemned the attacks on the police and Rangers personnel who were complying with the court’s orders on the direction of the PTI chairman and termed it “unacceptable” — the claims rejected by the ousted premier who was removed from power via a no-confidence vote in April last year.

Expressed solidarity with the officers and jawan of the state institutions, the meeting resolved that strict action should be taken against the law-breaking elements as per the law. The session also termed the attacks on the law enforcers as enmity with the state which cannot be tolerated.

“The entire nation witnessed that the PTI is not a political party but a group of trained militants,” the declaration read, adding that in view of the evidence and proofs, it was decided to take action in this regard as per the law. 

The meeting also condemned the smear campaign against the state intuitions in general and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir in particular on social media.

Referring to the “bundle package of bail” to the PTI chief, the ruling alliance said that the judicial system’s treatment of Khan and his aides was deepening the impression that the scale is not balanced. “Two different standards of justice are not acceptable in one country,” read the declaration.