LAHORE, Jan 4: Former prime minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan, who is currently incarcerated, has revealed that he was given an opportunity to go into exile for three years, which he chose to decline.
In a message posted on X on Friday, the 72-year-old sportsman-turned-politician stated, “While I was in Attock Jail, I was offered the chance of a three-year exile, but my commitment is to live and die in Pakistan.”
Speaking with reporters at Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail, where he has been held since August 2023, Khan mentioned that he has been “indirectly approached” regarding a transfer to his residence in Bani Gala, Islamabad.
However, he confirmed in his X post that he turned down the offer. “My position is straightforward: first release my detained workers and leaders. Only after that will I entertain discussions regarding my own predicament.”
The founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) asserted that he believes decisions about Pakistan must be made internally.
“Nevertheless, when the subject pertains to fundamental human rights, it is only natural for voices to emerge worldwide. Institutions like the United Nations exist for such matters. Enlightened individuals across the globe advocate against the infringement of basic rights.”
Khan expressed that during this “authoritarian period,” violations of personal freedoms, disregard for fundamental legal rights, and the dismantling of institutions have severely impacted the nation’s social and political fabric, as well as its legal and economic systems.
“The ridiculous manner in which Khalid Khurshid (former Gilgit-Baltistan chief minister) received a 34-year prison sentence highlights the absence of rule of law in our nation and the presence of a dreadful undeclared dictatorship,” he remarked.
“Even during Musharraf’s regime, we criticized military interference but never endured such oppression and fascism,” he stated.
Addressing speculation that the incoming Donald Trump administration may advocate for his release, he remarked: “I anticipate Trump will adopt a neutral stance, unlike Biden who, as is well-known, influenced by General Bajwa, played a pivotal role in the ousting of our government via a vote of no confidence, which was a blatant act of interference.”
Regarding his party’s negotiations with the government, Khan mentioned: “Our negotiation team is in talks with the government. Our requests are reasonable — the establishment of a judicial commission regarding the incidents of November 26, 2024, and May 9, 2023, as well as the release of political prisoners.”
On May 9, 2023, supporters of Khan’s party reportedly attacked several military facilities, including the army headquarters in Rawalpindi and the ISI building in Faisalabad, as an expression of their frustration over his arrest in a corruption case.
He disputed the statements by the Director General of ISPR (media wing of the army) concerning the events of May 9.
“Those who tampered with the CCTV footage orchestrated the attacks on May 9 (targeting state and military installations). Verdicts on these matters were delivered in military courts because there would be no requests for the CCTV footage there. Our people were directly shot and martyred on November 26. The complete truth will emerge once transparent investigations into these incidents are conducted.
“We have issued the government a deadline of January 31. Meanwhile, our campaign to boycott remittances continues alongside negotiations. The boycott initiative may be reconsidered if the government demonstrates seriousness in addressing our demands,” Khan asserted.
The second round of discussions between government officials and PTI representatives wrapped up on Thursday, with an agreement to reconvene next week to ease the ongoing political tension and instability across the country. (PTI)
