Omar Ayub demands release of detained workers

PESHAWAR: Leader of Opposition in National Assembly Omar Ayub on Monday said the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf would challenge the sentences handed down by military courts to PTI workers.

Speaking to media outside the PHC, he reiterated his opposition to trying civilians in military courts and underlined the need for judicial inquiries into the incidents of May 9 and November 24. “Today, a former President of Pakistan has come here seeking bail. It’s a matter of shame,” Omar Ayub remarked, standing outside the court. “As Leader of the Opposition, I am here, involved in negotiations, and yet facing absurd cases such as violations of the Foreigners Act and motorcycle theft. They’ve labeled me an international motorcycle thief,” he added sarcastically.

Ayub criticized the government’s use of military courts for civilian cases, stating, “There is a Supreme Court ruling that military courts cannot operate like ordinary courts. Their decisions on these cases will not hold.”

He announced plans to file petitions in superior courts to overturn the sentences given to civilians by military courts. He demanded the release of the PTI’s detained workers and called for transparency in the legal process, including the release of CCTV footage from the events of May 9.

Discussing ongoing political negotiations, Omar Ayub said that PTI founder Imran Khan had tasked him with being part of the negotiating team before his arrest on December 5. He said that the PTI team had placed several demands on the table, including judicial inquiries into the May 9 and November 24 incidents, a timeline for general election, and the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) for transparent polling.

“Pakistan cannot achieve stability until the rule of law is established,” Ayub asserted. He pointed to the lack of international investment in the country, citing the privatization of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) receiving a mere Rs10 billion bid as an example of the economic downturn.

Ayub called for fair and transparent elections, saying, “Whoever forms the government through these elections, we will accept the result and move forward.” He underscored the urgency of addressing the country’s challenges through lawful and democratic processes, calling electoral reforms vital for restoring investor confidence and ensuring progress. He said the country’s stability and development depended on the supremacy of law, fair governance, and the will of the people expressed through legitimate elections.