Former Prime Minister Imran Khan, currently incarcerated, has unequivocally dismissed the prospect of striking any deals with those he perceives as having "enslaved" Pakistan. In a statement marking the 28th Foundation Day of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, Khan lamented the imposition of what he described as the "worst dictatorship" upon the nation. He warned against the dire consequences this authoritarian rule could inflict on Pakistan's economy, governance, democracy, and judicial system.
Asserting his commitment to the nation's welfare, Khan urged every citizen to join hands in preventing further descent into chaos and ensuring the preservation of freedom. Despite facing incarceration for the past nine months on what he terms as "fabricated charges," Khan remains resolute, declaring his readiness to endure even more time behind bars rather than compromise with those he holds responsible for the nation's plight.
Since his ousting through a no-confidence motion in April 2022, Khan, a former cricket star turned politician, has faced legal convictions in multiple cases, leading to his confinement at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi. His party, the PTI, has encountered mounting pressure, including arrests and defections, particularly following the unrest triggered by Khan's arrest last year.
Khan's message coincided with statements from PTI leader Shehryar Afridi, who emphasized the party's willingness to engage in dialogue, albeit not with the Pakistan Peoples Party led by Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari or the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz. Instead, Afridi underscored the importance of engaging with military leadership to prioritize national security.
Dismissing speculations about clandestine negotiations with the establishment, PTI leader Barrister Gohar Ali Khan clarified that the party harbored no interest in such talks. Despite winning over 90 seats in the National Assembly during the February 8 general election, Khan's PTI found itself sidelined by a post-poll alliance between the PMN-Led by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the PPP, which assumed power last month, leaving Khan's party out of the federal government formation process.
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