Syed Sohail Abbas, a member of the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly and former Minister for Law and Health, has strongly condemned the arrest of former Senior Minister Raja Zakariya Khan and other Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers, stating that arresting political activists runs counter to democratic values and fundamental political freedoms.
He remarked that while the current administration claims to be a democratic government, the arrest of workers based on political affiliation during a democratic era is a matter of grave concern. Dissent is an integral part of democracy, and it is the responsibility of a democratic government to listen to political opponents rather than suppress them.
Syed Sohail Abbas called upon the government led by Amjad Advocate to clarify the reasons and legal grounds for the arrest of former Senior Minister Raja Zakariya Khan and the other political workers.
He asserted that instead of engaging in political victimization or suppressing opponents, the government should promote the rule of law, political tolerance, and democratic traditions. If there are legal allegations against anyone, they should be presented before a court through a transparent legal process; arrests based solely on political affiliation are unacceptable under any circumstances.
Syed Sohail Abbas demanded the immediate release of Raja Zakariya Khan and the other arrested political workers, as well as an end to the ongoing actions against political activists.
He further added that protecting the democratic rights of the public and political workers is the government’s constitutional and moral obligation, and no government should misuse its authority to silence the voices of its political opponents.
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