Imran Khan, the founder of the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and a former Prime Minister, has instructed the party’s leadership to forgo all attempts at negotiations with the establishment, claiming that any discussions would only fortify their enemies, media reports said.
“There is no point in engaging with the establishment. The more we retreat, the more they crush us. This is not the institution’s policy but that of the third umpire,” Khan remarked during a conversation with the media inside Adiala Jail, where he has now spent a year.
Thinking back to his incarceration, Khan rejected the idea that he would snap under duress. They believed that I wouldn’t withstand being kept in isolation and that I would break. I’ve been alone for 21–22 hours every day. I perspire so much in the heat that my clothes fall apart. They have no idea how athletes practice; we are hardwired to persevere under duress.
Drawing historical similarities, Khan emphasised how Japan’s institutions survived the atomic bombs and allowed it to recover. A nation thrives when its morals and institutions hold firm. But in this case, the “extension mafia” is destroying both in order to benefit itself. The future of the country and the institutions that support it are being destroyed by the Gang of Three, The Express Tribune quoted.
He mentioned the report of the Hamoodur Rahman Commission, citing it as an example of how the power-hungry nature of one man destroyed Pakistan’s democracy and led to the loss of East Pakistan.
In addition to costing us billions, the Dhaka fiasco resulted in the arrest of 90,000 soldiers and the deaths of 50,000 Pakistanis. The commission’s report was not concealed but rather kept as a teaching resource, the report said.
Khan also said on Saturday that he would not be holding a rally in Rawalpindi without government authorisation. “Tomorrow, our solicitors will also demonstrate in front of the Supreme Court.” [Chief Justice] Qazi Faez Isa is with them; that much has been established. Along with Sikandar Sultan Raja, he is a player for them; the third umpire is their captain, in charge of everything.
Khan compared the state of politics today to that of Palestine, alleging that Western countries are deliberately delaying ceasefires in order to oppress Palestinians. “They have the same goal of crushing us.”
Khan expressed his insistence that he had not benefited financially from the Al-Qadir Trust issue. “They claim we benefited from a £190 million adjustment, but there is no evidence to support this claim. The real estate mogul gave the trust the land in the same way that he has given millions to Shaukat Khanum Hospital, which raises ten billion rupees a year.’
Regarding party head Ali Amin Gandapur, Khan reiterated that Gandapur and the rest of the leadership had received instructions not to hold negotiations with the authorities. Since the time of Bajwa, they have advised us to avoid discussing neutrality. They crush us harder the farther we retreat. Not the institution, but the third umpire’s policy is as follows.
Khan further demanded that Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, the highest ranking judge, be named as the country’s next chief justice and that the appointment take place as soon as possible. “The Constitution requires that the most senior judge be appointed, and there are just thirty days remaining. Isa’s appointment was announced three months in advance, yet they still held off on making the news.’
