ISLAMABAD: PTI founder and former Prime Minister Imran Khan has announced his intention to begin a hunger strike while in jail over mistreatment in jail.
During a media interaction at Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail, Khan has expressed his lack of trust in Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Qazi Faez Isa, and voiced his concerns about the Chief Justice’s involvement in benches handling PTI-related and his personal cases. He highlighted objections raised by his legal team regarding the judge’s frequent presence, suggesting a belief within PTI that justice might not be impartially served.
Khan cited a recent decision by Justice Gulzar’s five-member bench, which aligned with his team’s stance that the Chief Justice should not preside over their cases. He also mentioned the administrative dynamics within the jail, pointing out the involvement of senior military officials in daily operations.
Referring to a recently cancelled meeting with his legal team, Khan expressed disappointment over the missed opportunity to address internal disputes. He attributed the cancellation to the jail superintendent, allegedly acting on a request from a jailed colonel, who denied his team access for operational reasons.
Khan reaffirmed his party’s resilience, declaring, “They are mistaken; they think my party will weaken. They don’t realize that the party with the strongest voter base remains strong.”
He argued that the IMF cannot resolve Pakistan’s issues and emphasized the need for fair and transparent elections. Khan expressed concern that Pakistan, which was once a leader until 1990, is now being surpassed by other nations.
“The country is controlled solely by the elite. What is the purpose of a president who increases the president’s house expenditures? Electricity and gas bills have broken the people’s backs,” he remarked.
Khan mentioned discussions involving Omer Ayyub, Senate Shibli Faraz, and Ali Amin Gandapur following his National Assembly remarks on February 8th, noting that negotiations were conducted on the condition that he would not intervene against powerful entities in power.
The former premier emphasized the importance of dialogue during times of issues and expressed willingness to engage with Shehbaz Sharif’s government, affirming its continuity.
He criticized the Chief Justice’s handling of the Election Commission, claiming that it had committed the greatest fraud in the country. Khan called for justice, stating that if investigations proceed, the Chief Election Commissioner will face Article 6 charges.
“I will never succumb to the tyranny of time; I am prepared to die in jail. As long as I live, I will wage this battle. I am the one who says La Ilaha Illallah,” Khan stated. He also mentioned videos of Maryam Nawaz, Nawaz Sharif, and Khawaja Asif in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, urging the government to file cases against them.
On national security, Khan underscored the importance of a strong relationship with Afghanistan, stating, “We cannot defeat TTP without it.”
He criticized Bilawal Bhutto and the Foreign Minister for not visiting Afghanistan, emphasizing that support from the Afghan government is crucial for success in the ongoing conflict across the 2500-kilometer border. Khan noted that during his tenure, the ATS and Ghani government collaborated, and he himself visited Afghanistan to hold discussions.
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