Party to mobilise members to demand freedom for Anwar in sodomy case

(The Star) – PKR has summoned its branches nationwide to mobilise hundreds of busload of supporters to the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya next week to demand freedom for their leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

PKR secretary-general Rafizi Ramli directed the party’s more than 200 branch leaders to show support for their cause to free Anwar from sodomy conviction.

“In states under Pakatan Rakyat rule, each branch should deploy a minimum of five buses full of supporters,” he said in a circular sent to branches.

In non-Pakatan Rakyat states, branches within constituencies held by PKR should each send at least two busload of supporters, he said.

“For branches that has no PKR representative, it is suggested they each deploy at least one busload of supporters,” he said.

Anwar’s appeal to set aside his sodomy conviction would be heard on Oct 28 and 29.

On March 7, the Court of Appeal overturned the Jan 9, 2012 High Court decision in acquitting Anwar on a charge of sodomising his former aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan on June 26, 2008.

The three-member Court of Appeal panel chaired by Balia Yusof Wahi sentenced Anwar to five years in jail, but granted him stay on the sentence pending his appeal to the Federal Court.

Rafizi also called on the branches to hold special prayers as well as prayers according to other faiths to free Anwar from the sodomy conviction.

“I appeal to all the branch leaders to mobilise members and supporters en masse to the Putrajaya Palace of Justice as a show of support for our general leader,” he said.

Anwar’s political career is at stake if he is jailed more than a year.