KARACHI: Senate Deputy Chairman Mirza Muhammad Afridi met Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan on Wednesday.
Senator Shibli Faraz was also present in the meeting that deliberated upon the ongoing political situation of the country, the role of the Tehreek-e-Insaf in the Upper House of the Parliament, and the arrest of Senator Azam Swati. The PTI leaders expressed resentment over the arrest of Azam Swati and the torture Swati was subjected to. They condemned the coalition government’s actions to ‘undermine’ the dignity of the Parliament, especially the Upper House.
Speaking on the occasion, Imran Khan came down hard on the federal government. “The imported government consisting of criminals is attacking the sanctity of the constitution and parliament. The shameful arrest of a 74-year-old parliamentarian and the torture of him in custody violated the constitution and the law.”
He continued: “No civilized state in the world allows denying constitutional rights and inhumane treatment for just expression of opinion. Using the state organs for political persecution is becoming a source of shame. There was no justification for not issuing the production orders of Senator Swati.”
The former prime minister urged the Senate chairman and deputy chairman to take steps for upholding the supremacy of the House. He called for an immediate inquiry into the matter. A couple of days ago, the PTI senators staged a sit-in in the office of Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani over the non-release of Azam Swati’s production order.
Senator Faisal Javed said Sadiq is siding with the government while the latter told him that he was in Karachi to see his ailing father. To a question by the senator, Sadiq said: “I’m the chairman of the house. Faisal Javed made a complaint to the senate chairman for not giving the floor to the leader of the opposition.