The PTI’s UK chapter has issued a condemnation after Justice Athar Minallah of the Supreme Court was heckled in London, stating that those involved do not represent the party.
The condemnation was issued late on Saturday night after videos emerged of Justice Minallah being harassed and heckled in the streets of London. Videos shared widely on social media showed the judge being escorted to a car by a group of people as others shouted at him in the background. The hecklers chanted slogans in support of the PTI and against the army.
Justice Minallah was scheduled to appear at Saturday’s ‘Future of Pakistan Conference’ at the London School of Economics.
In response to the incident, the official PTI UK account posted a statement by Jahanzeb Khan, the senior vice president of the party’s chapter, condemning the treatment of Justice Athar Minallah. The post was also shared by the party’s official account and PTI Secretary General Omar Ayub Khan. PTI UK stated that those involved do not represent the party and that PTI UK does not endorse such behavior.
PTI’s Taimur Saleem Khan Jhagra said there was “absolutely no justification for the heckling of Justice Athar Minallah in London” and stressed the need to make such behavior a thing of the past.
Journalist Zarrar Khuhro commented on the incident, highlighting that ironically Justice Minallah provided the most relief despite pressure.
The incident is not an isolated one, as last August, PTI supporters pursued Judge Humayun Dilawar at the University of Hull, and in September 2022, former information minister Marriyum Aurangzeb was heckled in London. Videos of the incidents were shared widely on social media.