Criticizing the role of media while covering the Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC) attack over a week ago, Prime Minister Imran Khan's nephew Barrister Hassaan Khan Niazi claimed that he was targeted and singled out "only because of his relationship" with the premier.

Police had conducted multiple raids to arrest Niazi in the PIC attack case but remained "unable" to catch him. He was among more than 200 lawyers who had gone underground to avoid arrest.

"Show me if I have torched the police van, if I was holding a stick, if I have attacked the PIC. Give me some proof if I have incited someone or led the crowd," demanded a teary-eyed lawyer while speaking to reporters during a press conference at Lahore Press Club on Friday. He addressed the presser immediately after securing an interim bail from an anti-terrorism court.

He said for the past seven to eight days, he received abuse from across the world. "I want to explain my viewpoint over the issue as I am answerable to the nation."

"On the day of attack, I was at the PIC because it was a "peaceful" protest and police had "granted permission" for it. If it wasn't a peaceful protest, why did the police not intercept it? I had come to participate in a peaceful protest as I hadn't foreseen what would occur there," he claimed.

Emphasizing that he was the first lawyer in the country who had expressed regret on Twitter over the attack, the premier's nephew demanded "across-the-board accountability" and said he was "unfairly singled out". Despite his apology on social media, Niazi claimed that the media targeted him because of his relationship with the PM.

The Barrister continued that the entire world was hating him due to the "media bashing". "You people have tried to end my career," he said with sobbing eyes.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2019