Pakistan Justice Movement (PTI) has been vociferous in condemning the raid on its secretariat in Islamabad, which it describes as not just unfair but a blatant act of political aggression. The party’s Head, Barrister Gohar, voiced his anger and dismay at the incident, claiming that it was designed solely to weaken PTI by intimidating its members. He stressed that such moves were not just anti-democratic but a direct assault on the body politic of any nation.
Gohar issued a statement giving more details about what happened during the raid. He said that had they come with a proper search warrant backed by law enforcement agencies, they would have cooperated fully with them because “we trust the rule of law. “We’re prepared to provide assistance where necessary, but due process must be followed,” he reiterated, adding that this ensures fairness in legal proceedings.
Barrister Gohar
However, according to Barrister Gohar, such raids seem more like politically motivated actions rather than genuine law enforcement operations aimed at establishing facts before courts of competent jurisdiction or tribunals have jurisdiction over such matters. The police should have indicated why they were there and specified under which sections of relevant statutes concerning offenses against the state, among others, creating ambiguity around their intention behind entering our premises without notice or producing a search warrant.
He highlighted one aspect that bothered him most – removing affidavits belonging to PTI’s Members of the National Assembly (MNAs) from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab, besides Members of Provincial Assemblies(MPAs). These documents had been seized by law enforcement officers who failed to give reasons for doing so contrary to section 46(3)(a) of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC). Ten people affiliated with this organization were apprehended during this operation, making us feel victimized even further.
Involves Rauf Hassan
Moreover, another incident involves Rauf Hassan, a senior member of our ranks ….. He told me he wasn’t feeling well, so I went with him to provide moral support. Unfortunately, while there, officers said they had no case against me; hence, I was free to go home. So you can see that these guys were acting anyway without proper coordination among themselves,” said Barrister Gohar.
The leader also expressed broader concerns about how law enforcement agencies conduct their operations vis-Ã -vis politics in Pakistan. Calling for more openness on the part of the government. He stressed that the national parliament should be taken into confidence. Before undertaking such actions to suppress political dissenting voices within society. Any operation planned by the state must be shared with legislators. He added that the lack of briefings about Operation Azm-e-Istahkam showed. A lack of communication and transparency that was unacceptable within a democratic order.
Barrister Gohar’s statements reflect general dissatisfaction and worry within PTI regarding this country’s prevailing political environment. The secretariat raid is not seen as an isolated event but somewhat indicative of an asymptomatic larger design being employed against our party. Therefore, they demand that such methods cease immediately and that everyday political practice resume without delay. Observation of fairness at all times, thus restoring credibility into a democratic system.
A Politically Motivated
Considering this as a politically motivated move against the party, PTI has strongly criticized the secretariat’s raid. Barrister Gohar’s report enumerates doubts about legality and transparency during raids like these. It also brings up broader issues, such as the arbitrary arrest of members from opposition parties. Which can be seen as an attack on democratic governance within Pakistan. There is a demand for more parliamentary control over what happens behind closed doors among politicians. Or bureaucrats call for power-sharing arrangements based on rule-by-law principles rather than raw force alone. This highlights the need for the audience to be part of the solution, making them feel empowered.
