Imran Khan, the Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and former Prime Minister, has expressed an 80% probability he will be rearrested when he appears in Islamabad for various bail hearings on Tuesday.
Speaking to CNN on Sunday, Khan voiced his concerns about the current state of the rule of law in Pakistan, describing it as leaning towards a “law of the jungle” scenario, where might make right.
Khan alluded to instances where individuals were re-incarcerated immediately after being granted bail by judges. He expressed disappointment over dismissing the Pakistan Supreme Court Chief Justice’s ruling regarding holding elections on May 14.
When questioned about his relationship with the army, Khan remarked, “How can you win by taking on your army?” He believed in the need for a strong defense and cited past collaborations with Gen (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa. However, he revealed his uncertainty over Bajwa’s motives for abandoning him and toppling his government.
In the interview, Khan strongly advocated for free and fair elections as the only means to ensure political stability and economic recovery. Comparing Pakistan’s economic state to that of Sri Lanka, he stressed the situation’s urgency.
He criticized the army’s historical dominance in governance and the sway of two influential families, the Bhuttos and Sharifs. Khan also voiced concerns over the government’s apparent disrespect for the Supreme Court and the Constitution.
The PTI leader revealed the tense situation around his residence, with police checkpoints and accusations of harboring terrorists. He expressed concerns about the national elections scheduled for October and apprehensions about his party’s possible win.
Regarding allegations about his involvement in removing General Asim Munir from the director general of the country’s top spy agency due to allegations of corruption against his then-wife, Khan flatly denied them. He retorted that he never had Gen Asim provide evidence of his wife’s corruption nor made him resign because of it.
Meanwhile, the Information and Broadcasting Minister, Marriyum Aurangzeb, called Khan a “liar” for refuting these allegations. Khan also expressed solidarity with PTI leader Firdous Shamim Naqvi, who was recently arrested.
