Former prime minister (PM) Imran Khan’s sister Noreen Khan has quoted her brother as praising party workers’ determination despite military courts’ conviction, terming the convicts of May 9 riots as ‘mujahids’.

 

“They [convicted PTI workers] have shown great patience. I am proud of them. They are Mujahids,” Noreen, while speaking to reporters outside Adiala Jail, quoted her brother as saying.

 

Military courts had on Dec 21 awarded prison sentences to at least 25 PTI workers and leaders for attacking state installations on May 9, 2023. On Dec 26, Noreen’s son and nephew of the incarcerated former premier, Hassaan Khan Niazi, was among 60 others who were awarded jail terms for their involvement in the May 9 riots.

 

While several PTI supporters and leaders remain undertrial in military as well as anti-terror courts for their involvement in the violent protests that had erupted following Khan’s arrest, PTI maintains its innocence, continuing to demand a judicial probe into the riots.

 

Terming civilians’ conviction by military courts as “baseless”, Noreen said that all demonstrators had done on May 9 was exercise their right to protest. “They had not killed anyone,” she said.

 

Describing her recent visit to Kot Lakhpat jail, Khan’s sister said that all convicted were “happy”. “My son Hassaan Khan Niazi was also happy… and nobody was disappointed with their sentence.”

 

Meanwhile, Aleema Khan, who accompanied Noreen outside Adiala, reiterated PTI’s claim that scores of party workers were missing since after violent November demonstrations. She went on to claim that her brother feared the protesters had been “killed and buried”.

 

Aleema added that Khan had categorically denied the government’s proposal for house-arrest, adding that her brother had vowed to face cases come what may.

 

She further said that incarcerated Khan refused to strike any deal. “Why would he enter a deal after already spending a year and half in prison?” she said and quoted her brother as rejecting any offers for his release.

 

“The PTI founder said that his cases have been wrapped up,” Aleema said, adding that Khan continued to reiterate his two demands – the formation of a judicial commission comprising three senior-most Supreme Court judges to probe May 9 and November 26 events, and the release of all political prisoners.

 

Earlier, PTI Senator Shibli Faraz also rubbished the “false perception” that Khan was seeking relief for himself in negotiations with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) led coalition government.