Rawalpindi: Founder of PTI, Imran Khan, has demanded new elections.
During the hearing of the 190 million pound reference at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, the founder of PTI spoke informally with journalists.
In response to a question about the decisions regarding reserved seats, he said, “What’s the point of coming into government now? The establishment must conduct clean and transparent elections. Once reserved seats are allocated, we won’t be part of any maneuvering. If we want to save the country, the only way is through clean and transparent elections. The upcoming year’s budget will be tougher than the current one, and the public is facing a deluge of taxes.”
When asked about negotiations, he stated, “I am ready for talks, but we have three conditions: first, drop my cases; second, release our people; third, restore our mandate. I had negotiated with General Bajwa twice, and we had formed a three-member committee consisting of Asad Umar, Pervez Khattak, and Shah Mehmood Qureshi. At that time, we were informed that the higher-ups had already decided not to hold elections.”
Read more: The Supreme Court ordered to grant reserved seats to PTI, nullifying the Peshawar High Court’s decision.
The founder of PTI welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision, calling it a positive development that has given hope to the public. “Thank God the Supreme Court judges stood for the rule of law, which places the powerful under the law.”
He added that Justice Munir had bowed down to power. “Everyone knows where the establishment and Justice Qazi Faiz Isa stand. We were not allowed to contest elections; our candidates were prevented from filing nomination papers. Justice Qazi Faiz Isa took our party symbol from us, and our candidates were allotted multiple symbols in a single constituency.”
Imran Khan remarked that there is now fear that constituencies, especially three in Islamabad, will not be opened. “The PML-N always plays with the establishment on its side. Nawaz Sharif is a certified criminal and fugitive; how are all his cases dismissed?”
He questioned Chief Justice Qazi Faiz Isa, asking, “Should he morally be sitting on my cases? Justice Gulzar’s five-member bench had stated that Qazi Faiz Isa should not hear my cases. The Chief Justice’s wife has made public statements against me. If the Chief Election Commissioner has any shame, he should resign; Article 6 should be applied to him.”
Imran Khan asked why his petitions from February 8 and the Human Rights petitions are not being heard. He mentioned that he had written a letter to the Chief Justice regarding these petitions.
He stated, “The events of February 8 cannot be forgotten. Even the US Congress is saying that fraudulent elections occurred. A small elite is dominating the country, and only the Supreme Court can bring this elite under the law.”
Imran Khan shared that he has been in jail for a year, eating only three dishes, reading books, exercising, and praying. “I will go on a hunger strike and highlight this internationally. The ISI is causing transfers of officers in the jail, thinking I will be scared; I am not afraid. A cat used to come to my room and had become familiar with me; I’ve heard they are transferring it too.”
When asked about internal party differences, Imran Khan said, “Party differences are our internal matter; let’s not discuss that.” He further mentioned that one of their workers, Abad’s son, passed away, and he has been kept in solitary confinement. “We demand that Abad undergo a medical examination. I heard Abad attempted self-immolation in jail. On what basis is Rana Sanaullah saying that we have kept Imran Khan in jail?”
It is noteworthy that the Supreme Court has annulled the Peshawar High Court and Election Commission’s decision regarding reserved seats for the Sunni Ittehad Council, ordering that these seats be granted to PTI. The court declared the Election Commission’s notification from May 13 unconstitutional. In the majority decision, the Supreme Court stated that no party should be deprived of the electoral process by being stripped of its electoral symbol. The Supreme Court affirmed that PTI is a political party entitled to women’s and minority seats.
