By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Former Prime Minister Imran Khan denied on Monday having any conflict with the country’s powerful military and vowed to continue his protests against the current government until new elections are held.
Khan, who was ousted from power in a no-confidence vote in April last year, was arrested on corruption charges earlier this month. He claimed that the charges were politically motivated and that he was arrested at the behest of the military. Khan was later released on the orders of the Supreme Court.
Violent protests broke out nationwide following his arrest, with some protesters attacking military buildings and civilian installations. Last week, the country’s civilian and military leaders said that rioters and their backers who attacked state assets and military installations during protests would be tried under army law.
The move has been condemned by rights organisations and activists, who argue that it risks violating civilians’ right to due process.
In a Twitter space, Khan said that he had no problems with the military and that his protests were not aimed at the institution.
“I want to clear one thing up: I am not fighting my own army. Who does that? There was no conflict with the army before, and there isn’t one now,” he said.
During the one-and-a-half-hour-long interactive session, Khan took many questions on the current political situation, relations with the powerful military, and the economy.
Khan said he had always had a “good relationship” with the military.
“I want to make it very clear that I have never had any problems with the army,” he said. “I have always respected them, and I will continue to do so.”
Khan emphasised that his criticisms of the army were like a “parent’s constructive criticism towards their children”.
“We want a strong army; we would never want a weak army,” he said. “However, if they think I will be intimidated because of fear, I will prefer to die because death is better than slavery.”
When asked about his decision to remove army chief General Asim Munir as head of the military’s premier spy ISI during his tenure as prime minister in 2019, Khan did not provide a direct answer. Instead, he suggested that the army chief should address the issue directly.
The former prime minister said there was a good chance that he would be arrested on Tuesday (today) and advised his supporters that the protest afterward should be ‘peaceful’.
“On Tuesday, I am to appear in Islamabad for bail and there are 80 percent chances I will be arrested. I am mentally prepared for it.”
Khan also said he was not afraid of being arrested or even killed.
“If I am arrested or killed, it will not make a difference. I am not afraid of anything.”
Khan said he would continue his protests until the coalition government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was dissolved and fresh elections were held.
“I will not stop until we get justice… We will continue to protest until the government is dissolved and fresh elections are held.”
On the violence that occurred after his arrest on May 9, Khan denied his party’s involvement and claimed that parties engaging in such tactics do not have a genuine interest in contesting elections.
“We have not done it [violent protests], nor has our leadership done it. You have modern gadgets; you can check them. I am convinced an independent inquiry would make big revelations.”
The PTI chief said burning the house of the Corps Commander in Lahore and the Radio Pakistan building in Peshawar was a crime but holding peaceful protests is not a crime. “Even if you want to protest in front of GHQ peacefully it is your right.”
Khan said the people seen in the footage “looked different” and were not members of his party. “Why would we want unrest? We are a popular party, and we only want elections to take place.”
The Pakistan Tahreek-e-Insaf chief bitterly criticized the government for torture on his supporters in police custody.
“I have never witnessed such treatment towards women. I fail to understand what kind of mindset this is. The stories I am hearing are extremely difficult for us, especially about women.”
The PTI chief said no political party can be eliminated simply by arrests of its workers and efforts to suppress it.
“How will you eliminate the vote bank? The popularity of PTI is above 70 percent. PTI can even surpass a two-thirds majority if elections are held right now, do whatever you want but people know me, they have known PTI for 27 years.”
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