By Staff Reporter
RAWALPINDI: Imran Khan, the jailed founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), extended an olive branch to the military on Tuesday, saying his party is willing to hold talks with the army.
“We are ready to hold talks with the military. The army should nominate its representative,” Khan, appearing in a court hearing at Adiala jail, told reporters.
Former Prime Minister Khan, once a star cricketer and later known as the “blue-eyed boy” of the country’s military, has been imprisoned for nearly a year on more than 180 charges ranging from rioting to terrorism, after being ousted in April 2022 by a no-confidence vote in parliament.
Khan has been embroiled in a tussle with the military since he was removed from power, which he claims was orchestrated by the country’s top generals. The military denies this.
The standoff intensified when his supporters were involved in violent protests, including attacks on military buildings, following his brief arrest. The government and army have since cracked down on his PTI, with hundreds of party workers and leaders in jail, and many have left the party.
The former premier, however, struck a defiant tone, warning that his party’s popularity was only rising due to the crackdown.
Khan clarified that PTI’s criticism of the military was “constructive” and not accusatory. “I never made accusations against the military; this is my army,” he said. “We only did constructive criticism against the establishment.”
He accused the government of trying to drive a wedge between PTI and the military. “The government wants to destroy our party by creating a wedge between us and the army.”
Khan also alleged that Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, whom he described as a military representative, had oppressed PTI along with the Punjab Inspector General. “He is their representative; I will never talk to him.”
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