Imran Khan: PTI Leaders in Contact with Establishment

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan stated that few of his party leaders were in contact with the establishment after the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was put in pressure in the form of arrests and desertions after the violence on May 9, Dawn reported.

Khan was willing to hold talks with anyone for the sake of Pakistan.

Khan expressed to journalists at Adiala Jail after the Al-Qadir Trust case hearing that he’s open to discussions with anyone for the sake of Pakistan.

The PTI founder remarked that if he could engage in dialogue with Pakistan’s former army chief, Qamar Javed Bajwa, whom he later blamed for the downfall of the PTI government in 2022, then he’s open to talks with anyone, given the challenging circumstances the country is facing.

Imran stated that some leaders within the PTI “are still in contact with the establishment” for potential negotiations, as per a Dawn report. However, he refrained from providing additional specifics.

He remarked that the PTI’s mandate had been usurped and there were “efforts were being made to take over the party”. Imran Khan claimed that his wife, Bushra Bibi, was purportedly being singled out to exert pressure on him, and asserted that those accusing her aimed to “dismantle” the PTI.

The PTI founder emphasized that he had never engaged in a direct confrontation with the military, hinting at his relationship with Pakistan’s former chief of army staff, despite his government’s removal. Imran Khan accused the former Pakistan army chief of betraying him, noting that he could have revoked his appointment but chose restraint.

Around the period of his removal from office, Imran alleged that General Bajwa was implicated in a conspiracy supported by the US to oust him.

In discussions with reporters on Saturday, Imran mentioned that he conveyed a message to Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, General Asim Munir, via former Pakistan President Arif Alvi, indicating his awareness of the purported ‘London Plan’, as reported by Dawn.

Imran claimed that on Aug 5 last year, police entered his bedroom with the intention of detaining him, according to the Dawn report. He asserted that during the incident, the police seized his passport and chequebook, and mentioned that Bushra Bibi had relocated her valuables to a safe place. Imran also alleged that intelligence agencies had pressured his staff to become ‘approver’ against him.

The PTI founder remarked that Pakistan was confronting a situation reminiscent of the 1970s. Referring to the current government, Khan stated, “the king is sitting behind and [interior minister] Mohsin Naqvi is at the forefront as his viceroy,” as reported by Dawn. He further claimed that Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif had no authority.

Meanwhile, the accountability court proceeded with recording the testimony of witnesses, with five prosecution witnesses having been cross-examined by the defense counsel on Saturday. The case will resume following the Eid holidays.