Press Release
Immediately Release Dr. Iftikhar
The Regime’s Hatred of Islam is Reflected in its Inhumane Treatment of the Advocate of Khilafah "Caliphate", Dr. Iftikhar

On the instructions of its American masters, the Pakistani regime has intensified its efforts in the so-called "War on Terror." Although the regime claims that this war is against militants who use violence against the state, the real target of the regime in this renewed push, called the National Action Plan, is what it calls its war on “extremism”. The war on “extremism” is the prohibition, suppression and removal of Islamic concepts from the society, through the use of state force. These Islamic concepts are a threat to American hegemony in Pakistan and the wider region and so the Raheel-Nawaz regime is acting as the guardian to the American Raj. Concepts like Jihad against foreign occupation in Afghanistan and Hindu rule in Kashmir, the rejection of American Raj and American interference in Pakistan’s political and military affairs, rejection of colonialism and colonial institutions like United Nations and IMF, the belief and demand that Muslim armies must be mobilized to help the Muslims of Syria, Palestine and Kashmir and calling for implementation of Shariah laws by the re-establishment of Khilafah "Caliphate" (Caliphate) on the Method of Prophethood, all such Islamic concepts are considered dangerous by the masters of the regime and so its puppets in Pakistan's civilian and military leadership have sought to criminalize them under the label of “extremism”.

In this despicable war on “extremism,” through which the regime seeks to ban and remove Islamic concepts and values from the society, it has focused its oppression on Hizb ut Tahrir, the Islamic political party, which is the foremost national advocate for the Islamic ideology. Hizb ut Tahrir is the sincere leader of the Khilafah "Caliphate" Project in Pakistan and is at the forefront of resisting the American Raj in the region through its political and intellectual struggle. Its Shabab are strongly and courageously accounting and exposing American agents in Pakistan’s political and military leadership, who conspire with colonialists to protect their interests at the expense of the Muslims of Pakistan.

Dozens of members and supporters of Hizb ut Tahrir have been abducted and jailed by the thugs of the regime across the country, where they have been beaten, tortured, electrocuted and kept missing for months in some cases. Some of the members and supporters of the party have been in jail for more than one and a half years without any charge proven against them whilst the Official Spokesman of Hizb ut Tahrir in the Wilayah of Pakistan, Naveed Butt, remains missing for more than four years, since May 2012.

The oppression of this regime against the party seems to have no limits and is not constrained by any moral, ethical or basic humanitarian concerns. We would like to highlight here, the case of Dr. Iftikhar, a well-known political activist and advocate for Khilafah "Caliphate" from Lahore who was abducted and then jailed by the regime in May 2015 under the draconian Pakistan Protection Act. Dr. Iftikhar was afflicted by ulcerative colitis, a serious disease of the gut which had adversely impacted his health even before his incarceration. In its mad rush to jail anyone who called for re-establishment of Khilafah "Caliphate" in Pakistan, this merciless regime seized and jailed this peaceful political activist despite his illness. Even when his serious condition became well known to the regime, when his legal counsel tried to secure bail on medical grounds, the regime prevailed on the courts to ruthlessly deny him bail. Dr. Iftikhar was initially refused the special diet he requires due to his condition and which is arranged by his family and even medication required for his treatment was obstructed. After his health deteriorated significantly and a medical checkup in jail by a medical specialist recommended surgery, the jail authorities did not allow it. Even after a court order for surgery, it was delayed for months. Finally, after much delay when the surgery was allowed to take place, the regime's thugs interfered in hospital matters, including assaulting medical staff, and forced Dr. Iftikhar's transfer from a surgical ward to a medical ward, compromising his post-surgery care including the delay in the treatment of post-surgery complications which are potentially life threatening, including internal bleeding and infection. Dr. Iftikhar today lies in chains in a hospital bed in Lahore, his eyesight weakened significantly and his family fearing for his life due to hurdles created by the regime in provision of medical care to him. Yet, this heartless regime remains adamant that Dr. Iftikhar must return to jail and its pitifully inadequate hospital, even though he may die as a consequence and this would be nothing less than an extra-judicial murder. And all Dr. Iftikhar did to warrant such inhumane and oppressive treatment was to call for the establishment of Khilafah "Caliphate" in Pakistan. Allah (swt) said,

[وَمَا نَقَمُوا مِنْهُمْ إِلاَّ أَن يُؤْمِنُوا بِاللَّهِ الْعَزِيزِ الْحَمِيدِ]

“And they resented them only because they believed in Allah, the Exalted in Might, the Praiseworthy.” [Al-Buruj: 8]

We warn this criminal regime of the wrath of Allah for its oppression and mistreatment of the Dawah Carriers of Khilafah "Caliphate" for Allah (swt) said,

[إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يُحَادُّونَ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ أُوْلَئِكَ فِي الأَذَلِّينَ]

“Indeed, the ones who oppose Allah and His Messenger - those will be among the most humbled.” [Al-Mujadilah 58:20] Like so many other regimes in the Muslim World, Hizb ut Tahrir will face this criminal regime with patience and perseverance, satisfied with the promise of Allah of His Victory for the believers and the good tidings of RasulAllah (saaw) of the return of the Khilafah "Caliphate" on the Method of the Prophethood. We ask Allah (swt) to be pleased with the followers, believers and successors of Musa (AS) who challenge the Firouns of their time and account them for their evil deeds. We remind this criminal regime to take heed from the example of Firoun who was deluded enough to think his power and authority will never end for Allah (swt) said,

[كَدَأْبِ آلِ فِرْعَوْنَ وَالَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ كَذَّبُوا بِآيَاتِنَا فَأَخَذَهُمْ اللَّهُ بِذُنُوبِهِمْ وَاللَّهُ شَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ]

“Like the behavior of the people of Fir'aun (Pharaoh) and those before them; they belied Our Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.), so Allah seized (destroyed) them for their sins. And Allah is Severe in punishment.” [Aal-i-Imran 3:11]

Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir
in Wilayah Pakistan