- May 30, 2024
- Kainat Shakeel
- 0
In a rare and insightful conversation with Mehdi Hassan, former Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan broke his silence about the political unrest that resulted in his removal from office and subsequent imprisonment. Notwithstanding the limitations of his present detention in Adiala Jail, Khan’s written responses illuminated his tumultuous past and long-standing problems. Mehdi Hassan, a journalist renowned for his brutal honesty, explained why this interview was unique. “Mr. Khan could only receive written queries from me. Hassan emphasized the constraints created by Khan’s confinement by saying, “There was no opportunity for a direct dialogue or follow-up queries.”
Khan’s thoughts about his time spent incarcerated demonstrated the psychological conflict he alleges to face. “They use psychological tricks to break my spirit, but my faith in Allah keeps my heart strong,” Khan said. In the face of hardship, his remarks exuded resiliency and unshakeable faith. When asked who he thought was responsible for his government’s downfall in 2022, Khan was clear. “I am positive that General Bajwa was the only one who planned this ordeal, even after serving 11 months in jail. I don’t hold anyone else accountable,” he declared. He leveled a severe accusation of lying and manipulation against General Qamar Javed Bajwa, the former Chief of Army Staff. Khan “carefully planned and carried out this scheme to obtain his extension, presenting himself as a deceitful figure, creating lies and false narratives to cause both national and international chaos.”
Khan said that Bajwa had portrayed him as anti-American and stoked tensions to further his own goals. Khan bemoaned, “God knows what other lies he disseminated to various countries,” considering the sneaky campaign he said was being launched against him. Though Khan had harsh words for Bajwa, he did not mention General Asim Munir, the current Chief of Army Staff, implying either a calculated political move or a strategic quiet. There was also scathing criticism of the governing administration. “This administration is not legitimate. Just 17 seats were gained by the PML-N in Parliament. There was no hiding the pre-election rigging, torture, or bloodshed. Khan claimed extensive electoral fraud and said it took them almost two days to change the results after the polls.
Khan gave the Pakistani people a rallying cry in his parting speech. He denounced the general elections on February 8 as a fraud and declared, “There has been an attack on democracy and the right to self-determination of 250 million people.” Khan claims that these occurrences have only widened the gulf of mistrust between the general public and the governing class, hence sustaining an unstable and unsettling cycle.