Jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan, presently lodged in Adiala Jail, has threatened to launch street protests if the government makes any move to erode the independence of the judiciary. Khan has made these utterances while he is being lodged in jail on various charges.
Khan also slammed the government over the latter’s role in the affairs of various state institutions, including the police and NAB. To this effect, the PTI issued a statement carried as follows by PTI: “The army of Pakistan belongs to all one political party, nor its chief. It has ruined every institution after the police, NAB, FIA, and now the people have their last hope in the Supreme Court only.”
Khan asserted that the government has converted the police and NAB into instruments of torment against his party. He said that the Commissioner of Rawalpindi, who had conducted the election in Pindi Division, forcefully disappeared. After he presented evidence of rigging involving the Chief Justice and the Election Commission. He added, “If they try to sabotage the judiciary’s independence, I will call for street protests.”
The PTI founder also accused the current administration of electoral fraud. Khan criticized the government for giving a “fake mandate” to a party that failed to win a total of 20 seats. He asserted, “Nations are destroyed not by external enemies but by corrupt and incompetent people placed in positions of power.”
Khan also condemned Mohsin Naqvi, appointed as the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). He blamed Naqvi for the cricket team’s defeat against Bangladesh, stating, “Naqvi, made Interior Minister and PCB Chairman by the ‘Big Boss,’ has led our cricket team to a whitewash by Bangladesh. This demonstrates his failure to manage a technical sport like cricket.”
Khan questioned Naqvi’s qualifications for the PCB role, citing various corruption cases involving Naqvi. Including election fraud and a wheat procurement scandal. He pointed at question marks over the financial assets of Naqvi. Referring to Dubai Leaks, which had exposed five million dollars belonging to Naqvi’s wife.
On the judiciary front, Khan lambasted Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa for taking more than two months to deliver a verdict on the appeal against NAB Amendments. Khan claims that the government is deliberately trying to harm him. Meanwhile, authorities are rapidly advancing false charges against him while cases involving other political leaders remain stalled.
He also complained about the freezing of donations to Al-Qadir University, which imparts free education to rural students. He said the closure of the university would hurt students and further deteriorate the educational standards in Pakistan. Imran drew parallels with the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital, which, if shut, would increase the cancer treatment cost manifold.
He said there were heavy restrictions on his imprisonment. He had not allowed more than a restricted number of visitors. And criticized the attitude in comparison with other former leaders such as Nawaz Sharif. Khan said that he spends 21 hours a day in his cell, suffers extremely hot conditions. And only has permission for six lawyers to meet him.
Imran Khan had rejected the claims that he was being given five-star facilities. Insisting that his detention conditions were no different from those on death row. He expressed anger over restrictions imposed on access to the media. And showed annoyance that he was not able to get in touch with his children despite it being his legal right.
Imran Khan, who served as Pakistan’s Prime Minister from 2018 to 2022. And been serving time in Adiala Jail since August 2023. He has several cases lodged against him, including the Toshakhana case, the Cypher case, and others regarding his illicit marriage. His wife, Bushra Bibi, has also been behind bars for many months.
ANI