Pakistan’s jailed former prime minister Imran Khan has refused to apologise for the riots that broke out following his arrest on May 9 last year, claiming the army should apologise to him as he was “abducted” by paramilitary Rangers on the day of violence.
Khan, 71, was arrested by the Pakistan Rangers on May 9, 2023 from the Islamabad High Court complex while appearing in a corruption case.
His arrest sparked nationwide protests and rioting by supporters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, who damaged civilian and military installations across the country.
Army spokesman Major General Ahmed Sharif had said on May 7 this year that any talks could take place with the PTI provided the party apologised for its “politics of anarchy”.
The statement followed demands from various quarters that the PTI, founded by Khan, should apologise for the “Black Day” violence.
Speaking to the media at Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail on Saturday, Khan said he had no reason to apologise for the May 9 violence, Dawn newspaper reported. He further said he was arrested by Rangers led by a serving Major General from the Islamabad High Court complex.
The former prime minister, who has repeatedly expressed his willingness to talk to the military rather than the government in the past few weeks, reiterated his stance, saying he would only negotiate with “actual authority” as dialogue with the government would be “a futile exercise”.
He alleged that talks with the government would be counterproductive as undeclared martial law was in force in the area.
Cricketer-turned-politician Sidhu also said that talks with people in the corridors of power will be within the ambit of the Constitution.
On a question about senior politician and his aide Mahmood Khan Achakzai’s refusal to be the central figure for the proposed talks with the government, Khan said the senior leader has been designated to hold talks with political parties, Dawn further reported.
Earlier this week, the former prime minister said his party was ready to negotiate with the military establishment, but set some preconditions: return of his party’s “stolen mandate,” release of all detained party workers, and holding of transparent elections.
Khan also urged the army to nominate its representatives for talks.
Talking about his ordeal in jail, the former prime minister said he suffered from food poisoning twice as his cell did not have a refrigerator to properly preserve food.
Referring to the new Toshakhana case, in which he and his wife Bushra Bibi are accused, Khan said the case was a “clear violation of the National Accountability Ordinance”.
He claimed he still possessed the Graff watch which he was accused of selling in the NAB reference.
Khan said he had moved his valuables to a safe place after a raid was conducted at his Banigala residence in March last year.
He warned of legal action against the NAB chairman, interior minister and officials who had implicated him in “false cases”.
Earlier, the Accountability Court had adjourned proceedings in the £190 million Al-Qadir Trust corruption case until August 7.
As Khan’s lawyer was not available, the cross-examination of investigating officer Mian Umar could not be completed.
The PTI leader’s legal team, in an application before Judge Nasir Javed Rana, requested that Khan be allowed to call his children.
The court issued a notice to the jail administration in this regard and adjourned the hearing, the report said.