PESHAWAR: Zartaj Gul, the leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), sobbed on Wednesday as she expressed regret for her suspected role in the May 9 riots. She did so out of concern that she would be arrested by police from the court grounds.
The former climate change minister apologized to the media during her appearance before the Peshawar High Court on May 9, 2023, for the riots that broke out following the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan, during which demonstrators attacked and damaged security installations.
The legislator, who is from Dera Ghazi Khan in Punjab, expressed worry that she would be arrested by the police if she left the courtroom until her bail request was granted.
Outside the court, the police allegedly sent out more contingents, including six more female officers, and Ababeel Squad members guarded the area.
Speaking to reporters outside the court where large numbers of police were waiting to take her into custody, Gul said she felt more like fighting a war than running in the general elections.
As she stood strongly and bravely by her philosophy, the politician advised her supporters not to worry about the difficult atmosphere. She placed her trust in the legal system to deliver justice.
According to Gul, the election commission rejected her nomination papers. In DG Khan, the electoral commission employees were kidnapped.
“Imad Tahir was taken into custody this morning from the same court, and the police are currently there.”
Gul emphasized that she should be allowed bail because she had physically appeared and “surrendered” before the court. “Imad Tahir was arrested from the same court this morning and now the forces are present outside to arrest me,” Gul added.
“I haven’t done anything illegal. She continued, pleading with the attorneys, PHC chief justice, and bar to grant her “justice” and command the police to stop arresting her. “I am just standing with my ideology and I only want to contest polls, which is my right to represent DG Khan,” she said. Additionally, she asked that the legal community support the rule of law.
In an apparent attempt to apprehend the PTI leader, a few female police officers had earlier entered PHC’s bar room. The Insaf Lawyers Forum members, however, rejected their attempt. When the police and media asked to leave, the bar room was then locked.
In a case pertaining to the attack on Gujranwala Cantt on May 9, Gul and 51 other PTI leaders, including Murad Saeed, Ali Amin Gandapur, Hammad Azhar, and Omar Ayub, are facing accusations.
The aforementioned politicians’ properties were to be seized, under orders from an anti-terrorism court.
