'Pakistan Descending Into Banana Republic', Says Ex-PM Imran Khan

Gill was arrested on August 9 over controversial remarks against the Pakistan army on television that were deemed as "highly hateful and seditious" by the country's media

Former Pakistan prime minister Imran khan ( Image Source :ANI )

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday said the nation is "descending into a banana republic" following arrest of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Shahbaz Gill. The PTI leader was arrested on August 9 over controversial remarks against the Pakistan army on television that were deemed as "highly hateful and seditious" by the country's media. Imran Khan claimed that Gill’s arrest is a conspiracy to target him and his party, reported news agency PTI.

A local court on Wednesday approved a two-day physical remand of Gill upon request of the Islamabad police. The court's order on the remand of Gill in the Islamabad police custody came after it rejected the request for extension of his two-day physical remand.

The judge also directed the investigation officer to get the respondent medically examined and submit a report to the court, according to the Dawn newspaper.

Imran Khan's party has alleged that Gill was tortured in police custody previously and his life remains in danger.

"Descending into a banana republic. The civilised world will be shocked at our levels of barbarism. The worst part is an easy target has been chosen to make an example of through torture and without a fair trial," Imran Khan had tweeted and posted video of Gill being taken to hospital.

Descending into a banana republic. The civilised world will be shocked at our levels of barbarism. The worst part is an easy target has been chosen to make an example of through torture & without a fair trial. pic.twitter.com/BJve8kv8FN

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) August 17, 2022

"Meanwhile the likes of NS, Maryam, MFR, AZ, all of whom have in the worst possible way & repeatedly attacked State institutions through malicious and targeted statements against them, get away without even a hint of a reprimand," he mentioned in another tweet.

The PTI leader who is the close aide of Imran Khan, has been shifted to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) hospital over a medical condition.

Imran Khan has expressed concern about Shahbaz Gill being sent into police remand again.

"He is in a fragile state of mental and physical health because of the torture inflicted on him when he was abducted and taken to an undisclosed location and then again at the police station. This is part of a conspiracy to target me and PTI by forcibly getting false statements against us similar to what they have been doing against social media activists," he added.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) also expressed concern at the decision taken by the court to send Gill to physical remand.

"Any allegations that he was mistreated while on remand should also be investigated fairly and transparently," the commission tweeted.