Imran Khan expresses anger over Pak army's interference
asks why not form own political party for jumping into politics
Lahore (PTI): In his first address to the nation on Saturday after his release from the anti-graft body's custody on the apex court's order, Pakistan's ousted prime minister Imran Khan has advised the powerful military to form its own political party for jumping into politics and 'think big' for saving the country from descending into a complete chaos.
Looking furious over the manner the military establishment was bent upon crushing his party, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), Khan, during his address from his Zaman Park residence at 8 pm, asked the military leadership to review its "anti-PTI policy" for the sake of Pakistan, saying its steps have already brought the country to brink of disaster.
A triumphant Khan returned to his Lahore home on Saturday after having locked himself in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) premises for hours for fear of re-arrest despite being granted bail on Friday.
Before leaving for Lahore, the 70-year-old Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief hit out at the "imported government for kidnapping" him despite the IHC granting him bail in all cases.
Taking a pot shot at Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director-General Major General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry's statement in which he called Mr Khan hypocrite', the PTI chief said: "Listen to me Mr DG ISPR you were not even born when I was representing my country in the world and earning good name for it. You need to ashamed of yourself for calling me hypocrite and anti-Army."
He said the ISPR, the media wing of the military, had never said such things (about a politician).
"You have jumped into politics. Why don't you form your own party. Who has given you the right to make such frivolous allegations. Have some shame for saying that no one else harmed the army to the extent that I did, and that you will crush us," Khan said.
During his address, Khan asked whether the Pakistan Army's image was good while he was the prime minister or now?
"The people liked the Army then. When an Army chief (former Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa) stabbed me in the back and brought to power Pakistan's most infamous and corrupt criminals, the masses started criticising the Army and it is not because of me but the Army chief's actions that the Army is being targeted and criticised," he said.
Khan further said he is the recipient of the most charity around the globe since people trust him.
"You are saying Imran Khan is lying. I have been given the most charity because they trust me and consider me an honest person.
Pakistan's Supreme Court has also declared me honest (Sadiq aur Amin)," he further said.
Khan, who was ousted from power in April last year through a no-confidence motion, further said that the handlers (a reference to the military) and its installed government are the main beneficiaries of the attack on the military installations during a protest after his arrest last Tuesday.
"They have put the entire leadership of PTI in jails and arrested over 3,500 workers and instituted more cases against me after the attack on the state buildings by unknown persons. The government parties do not want the elections because they know they will be completely wiped out. That is why they planned this conspiracy (attack on military installations) and ran away from elections," he said.
Khan said such a crackdown had been carried out in East Pakistan which his party is facing today.
"Such actions have dire consequences. Although you (the Army) will not listen to me, I advise you to think big. You should see where the country is heading by such actions," he said.
Khan termed the judiciary the only hope for Pakistan, asking the judges to refuse illegal orders from the handlers.'
He said there has been unprecedented media control by the handlers who had also imposed a ban on social media to curb free speech.
He appealed to the journalists to listen to their conscience and not be controlled by fear being instilled by the military establishment.
Khan expressed fear that senior journalist Imran Riaz Khan who was abducted (by security agencies) might be severely tortured or killed.
He also lambasted the government for the abduction of another senior political analyst Oriya Maqbool Jan.
Khan demanded investigation into the protests and vandalism following his arrest by Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial so that facts could come to fore.
He suspected that the handlers' were also involved in the attack on the state installation to achieve its motive, saying his party has no history of indulging in violence.
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Caste discrimination in colleges sensitive issue, will do something to stop it: SC
New Delhi, Jan 3: Terming it as a sensitive issue, the Supreme Court on Friday said it will devise an effective mechanism to combat caste-based discrimination in educational institutions in the country.
A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan directed the University Grants Commission (UGC) to notify draft regulations to ensure no caste-based discrimination happened with students in the central, state, private and deemed universities.
It directed the UGC to furnish data on the number of institutions which had established equal opportunity cells in compliance with the UGC (Promotion of Equity in Higher Educational Institutions Regulations) 2012, popularly called "UGC equity regulations".
"We are equally conscious of this sensitive issue. We will do something. We will have to find out some effective mechanism and modalities to see that the 2012 regulations are translated into reality," the bench said.
It sought Centre's response on the issue and asked the UGC to furnish data within six weeks on the complaints over such discrimination among students in all universities and higher education institutions besides the consequent action.
Senior advocate Indira Jaising, appearing for the mothers of students Rohith Vemula and Payal Tadvi, who allegedly died by suicide after facing caste-based discrimination, said from 2004 till now over 50 students (mostly from SC/ST) had killed themselves in IITs and other institutions after facing such discrimination.
While Vemula, a PhD scholar at Hyderabad Central University died on January 17, 2016, Tadvi, a student at TN Topiwala National Medical College, died on May 22, 2019, after she was subjected to purported discrimination by three doctors in her college.
The bench said a PIL was filed in 2019 but no substantial hearing had taken place on the issue so far.
"From now on we will list this petition periodically so that some effective solution could be found in the matter as since 2019 nothing much has happened," said Justice Surya Kant.
The UGC counsel submitted a committee constituted by it gave recommendation and the commission drafted new regulations to stop caste-based discrimination.
"The draft regulations need to be put on the website to invite objections and suggestions from the public in a month's time and thereafter it will be notified," he said.
The bench questioned the UGC over the delay and said it had been sleeping all this while and not come up with new regulations.
"How much time is needed to notify the new regulations? You do it in one month and place it on record," the bench said and posted the matter after six weeks.
It sought the assistance of Solicitor General Tushar Mehta on the matter along with the response of the National Assessment and Accreditation Council, an autonomous institution under the UGC which assesses and accredits higher education institutions.
On September 20, 2019, the top court issued notice on the PIL which also sought to enforce the fundamental rights, particularly the Right to Equality, Right to Prohibition of Discrimination against caste, and the Right to Life.
The plea alleged "rampant prevalence" of caste-based discrimination in higher educational institutions throughout the country.
The petitioners sought directions to the Centre and the UGC to strictly ensure the enforcement and compliance of the 2012 regulations.
Seeking directions to the Centre and the UGC, the plea asked to ensure all the educational institutions, complied with the regulations in "letter and in spirit" apart from establishing equal opportunity cells on the lines of similarly existing anti-discrimination internal complaints mechanisms, and have representation from the SC/ST, NGOs or social sector to ensure objectivity and impartiality.
Further, a direction was sought to all universities to take strong disciplinary action against victimisation of students or staff over caste-based discrimination and protecting students from any hostility in campuses.
