ISLAMABAD: On Wednesday, Imran Khan, the former prime minister, declared he was prepared to answer questions regarding the 2014 PTI-organized sit-in and declined to offer an apology for the May 9 disturbances. After the court hearing in the £190 million corruption case at Adiala jail, he was addressing the media. In response to a question about whether he would offer an apology for the violent protest on May 9, Mr. Khan stated that he was in custody at the time and was not aware of the protests. The former premier stated that it was during his appearance before Umar Ata Bandial, Pakistan’s then-chief justice, when he learned of the protests.
He then on, “I had already denounced those violent protests.” It should be noted that the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) director general had declared a day earlier that talks with the PTI would not take place unless the party leadership issued a formal apology for the May 9 protests. Mr. Khan went on to say that PTI will not pursue discussion if the establishment is not interested in it. The former prime minister said that he was seeking talks for Pakistan’s benefit rather than to make a deal in exchange for favors.
He did, however, clarify that since his close relatives are in the armed services and the administration, he has no problem with the army. Mr. Khan said he would be happy to come before the investigation committee and that he was prepared to answer questions about the 2014 sit-in. He added that it has come to light that the accusations made against him about the 2014 sit-in were untrue. In addition to claiming that the 2024 elections are likewise rigged because the former caretaker prime minister has revealed information regarding Form-47, Mr. Khan claimed that the sit-in was organized as a protest against the 2013 elections.
According to his claims, several leaders of the PML-N had informally informed PTI that elections would not take place until Justice Qazi Faez Isa assumed the position of chief justice. Judge Nasir Javed Rana of accountability recorded a witness’s statement during the trial, and Mr. Khan’s and Bushra Bibi’s attorneys cross-examined another witness. The court granted Mr. Khan’s request for a medical examination and postponed the hearing until May 13.
