ISLAMABAD (National Times) – Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan on Tuesday said that Shahbaz Gill must be given right to defend himself, Dunya News reported.

In his reaction to the arrest of PTI leader Shahbaz Gill on Tuesday, Imran Khan said that if Shahbaz Gill has committed any crime or violated any law then it is his fundamental right to defend himself and clarify his position.

The former prime minister slammed the arrest, asking “can such shameful acts take place in any democracy?” “This is an abduction not an arrest. Can such shameful acts take place in any democracy? Political workers treated as enemies. And all to make us accept a foreign-backed government of crooks,” Imran Khan tweeted.

This is an abduction not an arrest. Can such shameful acts take place in any democracy? Political workers treated as enemies. And all to make us accept a foreign backed government of crooks. pic.twitter.com/3NYS1BCjtf

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) August 9, 2022
Imran Khan said that the government had come down to fascism and undemocratic moves are being taken against political workers.

He said that the fascist behaviour of the government will not be tolerated in any way. “The power of the people is with us… We have to fear no one as the days of imported government are numbered.”

Pakistan is living under a fascist imported government, who doesn’t care about the human rights of the people of Pakistan. We strongly demand the immediate release of Dr Gill,” Imran Khan’s PTI tweeted.

Separately, in an interview to a private, the ex-premier said that what happened with Gill doesn t even happen in a “banana republic”.

Imran Khan said that Shahbaz Gill was arrested without any arrest warrant, his driver was tortured and his vehicle was also damaged. If he has violated any law, then they should send him to jail. Gill was not arrested but abducted.