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In his first address to the nation on Saturday following his release from the custody of the anti-graft body on the Supreme Court’s directive, Pakistan’s ousted prime minister Imran Khan advised the powerful military to form its own political party for entering politics and to “think big” in order to prevent the nation from devolving into total anarchy.
Mr. Khan, who was visibly upset by the way the military establishment was determined to destroy his party, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, asked the military leadership to review its “anti-PTI policy” for the sake of Pakistan in his address at 8 p.m., claiming that its actions had already brought the nation to the verge of catastrophe. After locking himself inside the Islamabad High Court (IHC) building for hours out of dread of getting arrested again despite being granted bail on Friday, Khan triumphantly returned to his Lahore house on Saturday.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader, 70, accused the “imported government for kidnapping” him before departing for Lahore, despite the IHC having granted him bail in each instance.
In response to Major General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry’s criticism of Mr. Khan as a “hypocrite” in a statement from Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the head of PTI said: “Listen to me Mr. DG ISPR… you were not even born when I was representing my country in the world and earning good name for it. For labelling me a hypocrite and an enemy of the Army, you should feel ashamed of yourself. He claimed that the military’s ISPR, or media branch, had never made such claims about a politician.
“You have entered politics. Why not start your own party? Who has authorised you to level such baseless accusations? Have some guilt for suggesting that I was the only one who negatively impacted the army to this degree and that you would destroy us, Mr. Khan remarked.
Mr. Khan questioned whether the Pakistan Army had a positive reputation while he was prime minister vs now during his speech. “Back then, people liked the Army. The public began opposing the Army after an Army head (former Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa) stabbed me in the back and installed Pakistan’s most notorious and corrupt criminals, he claimed. “The Army is not being targeted or criticised because of me, but rather because of the Army chief’s actions,” he stated.
Mr. Khan went on to say that because people believe in him, he receives the highest charitable donations worldwide.
You claim that Imran Khan is lying. Because they believe in me and think I’m an honest person, I’ve received the most charitable donations. As Sadiq aur Amin, the Pakistani Supreme Court has also recognised my integrity.
During a demonstration following his detention last Tuesday, Mr. Khan, who was removed from office in April of last year following a no-confidence vote, added that the attack on military installations is primarily benefiting the handlers (a reference to the military) and its appointed government.
“After the attack on the state buildings by unidentified individuals, they have jailed the whole PTI leadership, detained over 3,500 workers, and started new proceedings against me. Because they know they would lose in every poll, the government parties do not want the elections. They ran away from elections because they had planned this plot (attack on military facilities),” he claimed. Mr. Khan claimed that such a crackdown was carried out in East Pakistan, where his party is currently in opposition. Such activities have serious repercussions. I urge you to think big even though you (the Army) won’t listen to me. Such activities should show you where the nation is going, he said.
Mr. Khan referred to the judiciary as Pakistan’s sole hope, pleading with the judges to reject their unlawful directives from the “handlers.” According to him, the managers have exercised unparalleled media control and have banned social media in an effort to stifle free expression.
He pleaded with the journalists to follow their moral convictions rather than to submit to the establishment’s instillation of fear.
Mr. Khan voiced concern that prominent journalist Imran Riaz Khan, who was kidnapped (by security forces), could be assassinated or subjected to terrible torture.
He also blasted the administration for Oriya Maqbool Jan’s kidnapping, which involved another senior political analyst. In order for the truth to surface, Mr. Khan asked an investigation of the demonstrations and damage that occurred after his arrest by Pakistan’s Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial.
Given that his party has never engaged in violent behaviour, he thought that “the handlers” were also involved in the attack on the government facility to further its objectives.
