The incarcerated chairman and founding leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, firmly asserted on Thursday that he has no intention of offering an apology, maintaining that he has not committed any crime. During an informal conversation with reporters at Adiala Jail, following the hearing of the Toshakhana and Al-Qadir Trust cases against him and his wife Bushra Bibi, Khan expressed his defiance and addressed several key issues.
“I will not apologize to them, as what crime have I committed?” Khan declared, reiterating his position that he has done nothing wrong. He also dismissed media reports suggesting that he had offered a conditional apology, labeling these claims as false. “I have been saying for the last 12 months, bring forth the CCTV footage of May 9,” Khan insisted, referring to the events surrounding the controversial date. He accused the authorities of concealing evidence, stating that withholding such footage is itself a crime.
Khan’s stance was unyielding as he challenged the authorities to continue their legal onslaught against him. “Make as many cases against me as you want; I won’t make a deal with you,” he stated emphatically. He further alleged that the primary objective of these cases against him and his wife is to dismantle PTI, Pakistan’s leading opposition party.
The former prime minister made it clear that no one has approached him for negotiations. Confident in his position, Khan remarked, “I have more time, and they are running out of time.” He went on to predict that the current government, led by the PML-N coalition, would not last beyond the next two months.
Imran Khan also raised demands regarding the accountability of key political figures. He called for the names of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, President Asif Ali Zardari, and former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to be placed on the Exit Control List (ECL) to prevent them from fleeing the country. This demand underscores Khan’s ongoing criticism of these leaders, whom he has repeatedly accused of corruption and mismanagement.
In his remarks, Khan addressed the role of the military in Pakistan’s politics. He clarified that while he referred to the army as apolitical, he did not mean to suggest neutrality, which he controversially described as a characteristic of “animals.” This comment highlights Khan’s complex relationship with the military establishment, which has played a significant role in Pakistan’s political landscape.
When questioned about the possibility of an interim government taking over and holding elections, Khan expressed strong reservations. He criticized the current Chief Election Commissioner, calling him the “biggest fraud,” and accused him of rigging previous elections. Khan pointed to instances in the by-polls where he claimed that ballot boxes were pre-stuffed and results were predetermined. “Any elections held under an interim government set up by the current administration and under this Chief Election Commissioner would not be acceptable to us,” Khan stated, indicating that he would reject any electoral process he perceives as compromised.
Regarding the legal proceedings against him, Khan was asked why his defense team had not produced witnesses, while the prosecution had done so. He responded that his witnesses would appear before the court in due course but expressed concern about revealing their identities prematurely, fearing they might be targeted. “If I disclose their names now, ‘Vigo dala’ will follow them,” he said, referring to the infamous vehicles often associated with abductions and intimidation in Pakistan.
Earlier in the day, Accountability Court Judge Nasir Javed Rana presided over the hearing of the new Toshakhana case. The judge extended the physical remand of Khan and his wife for an additional 11 days. The court ordered that the accused be produced before it again on August 19, upon the completion of the remand period. This extension further prolongs Khan’s legal battles, which have been a focal point of his political narrative.
Meanwhile, the same court adjourned the hearing of the Al-Qadir Trust case without any proceedings due to the absence of Khan’s and Bushra Bibi’s lawyers. This delay adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing legal challenges faced by the former prime minister and his wife.
In a separate statement reported by NNI, Imran Khan reiterated his prediction that the current government, led by the PML-N coalition, has only two months left in power. During his informal conversation with journalists, Khan suggested that the government is sinking deeper into a quagmire and will soon meet its end. He claimed that while he has ample time to pursue his goals, the government is running out of time and struggling to grasp the gravity of the situation.
Khan’s remarks reflect his continued defiance and his determination to challenge the current political order. As he navigates the legal challenges against him, Khan remains a central figure in Pakistan’s turbulent political landscape, with his predictions and accusations keeping the nation on edge.
