A staunch loyalist of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has constituted a committee to organise efforts across Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and in Kashmiri diaspora community circles abroad for release of PTI’s founding chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan.
Khawaja Atif Bashir, a former regional office bearer of PTI, told reporters that since Mr Khan had “fearlessly and zealously highlighted the cause of Kashmir at every international forum, it was incumbent upon every Kashmiri to play a vigorous role for his release.”
“I have formed the ‘Free Imran Khan Committee’ to provide a platform to PTI loyalists, particularly the younger lot, within the state as well as abroad to raise voice for early freedom of the distinguished leader of Muslim Ummah,” he said.
Mr Bashir informed that UK based Kashmiri activist, Hassan Shiba Naqvi, had been appointed as committee’s secretary to bring the overseas Kashmiris into the folds of this body and coordinate with like-minded people for a unified struggle for Mr Khan's release
“Shortly, the remaining office bearers of the committee will be picked from amongst the PTI members in other parts of the state and overseas,” he said.
Mr Bashir announced that from the committee’s platform, protest camps and rallies would be held in all AJK cities and towns to apprise the public of the worst ever vendetta against the PTI founding chairman on the one hand and involve them in campaigning for his release on the other.
Mr Bashir asserted that Imran Khan was a true patriotic leader and the politics of truth and fairness was his legacy.
“As prime minister of Pakistan, he led the international voice in raising awareness on the grave consequences of consistent Islamophobia and hate speech and promoting inter-faith harmony,” he recalled.
Mr Khan’s consistent campaign had culminated in approval by the UN General Assembly of a resolution setting March 15 as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia, he added.
“Khan sahib is a man of principles who – unlike his opponents - does not believe in the politics of deals,”
Mr Bashir said adding, neither will the PTI founder pretend illness nor accept offers to quit the country.
He said Mr Khan’s achievements at home and abroad and clear-headed approach had compelled the nation to give a historic mandate to the PTI in the recently held general elections in Pakistan, notwithstanding all kinds of conspiracies against the party coupled with pre and post poll rigging.
Ironically, the mandate given by the people was stolen by the power-hungry parties, he said.
According to Mr Bashir, Mr Khan was popular not only in the liberated territory of Jammu and Kashmir but also in the occupied territory, where Kashmiris had displayed posters and banners imprinted with his portraits.
Mr Bashir expressed the hope that decision-makers in Pakistan would soon bow to public pressure and release the country’s most popular leader without further loss of time.
Tariq Naqash
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