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In his message, Pakistan’s former PM Imran Khan said even if the establishment puts him in jail for 10 years, he will endure it for the “sake of democracy and nation”
Pakistan’s former PM Imran Khan was arrested on August 5, 2023, from his residence in Lahore after being convicted by a court in a corruption case. (Image: PTI/File)
Pakistan’s former prime minister Imran Khan on Monday released a message ahead of nationwide protests by his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, on the second anniversary of his arrest on August 5.
Khan said he will not hold any talks or go into negotiations with a “hybrid” regime led by “dictator Asim”, referring to Pakistan’s army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir. By doing this, he has closed all doors of negotiations with the Pakistan government.
Khan said even if the establishment puts him in jail for 10 years, he will endure it for the “sake of democracy and nation”.
“No matter if they put me in jail for 10 years – I will stay happily for the sake of democracy and nation,” Khan said in his message conveyed via his lawyer Ali Zaffar. “People have to fight for their rights and the PTI protests will give us freedom.”
Khan said only political movement can give the people of Pakistan “independence from the hybrid regime”. “Enough is enough; can’t tolerate mandate thieves and facilitators of a dictator,” he said.
Even as the PTI leader released his message, the Islamabad administration denied permission to his party to hold protest rallies.
Khan was arrested on August 5, 2023, from his residence in Lahore after being convicted by a court in a corruption case. He has been incarcerated since his arrest due to conviction in other cases, and is currently being held at the Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi.
“PTI to stage protests tomorrow (Tuesday) across the country, as per instructions of the former prime minister Imran Khan. Protests will be staged constituency-wise, with the public demanding the rule of law,” said Zulfiqar Bukhari, adviser to Khan on international media.
Bukhari said after “peaceful protests”, the party will conduct conventions across the country in the next stage, which would be followed by public rallies in the last stage.
“Strategy to be announced in different phases, which shall be communicated accordingly,” he said.
He said workers were being arrested by the Punjab government, claiming that around 150 workers had been detained so far in Lahore.
“Fearing the protest by PTI, the Punjab government has started arresting party workers and members, descending into madness by barging into their residences late last night, without warrant or providing any arrestable offence,” he added.
Bukhari further said apart from Lahore, there were arrests in Rawalpindi but declined to give figures. “Their crime? Dare to state a protest, which is yet to happen. That’s not lawful, that’s tyranny,” he said.
Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18
Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18
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