Govt left with only two months in power, predicts Imran

RAWALPINDI: Despite waiting for talks with stakeholders in power, jailed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan has predicted that the incumbent government, led by Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN), is left with only two months in power.

“The government is plunging into a quagmire; however, they [rulers] are fools and unable to understand,” he said during an informal conversation with journalists at the makeshift courtroom, set up inside Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail on Thursday. “I am predicting this from prison that this government has only two months,” Imran said adding that he had enough time but the incumbent rulers were running out of it.

Referring to his Wednesday statement on conditional apology over the May 9 riots, the former premier said a wrong perception was created that he had sought an unconditional apology.

He reiterated that he would apologise if the PTI activists were found involved in the violent protests that broke out in the country last year, following his arrest from the Islamabad High Court (IHC) premises in an alleged corruption case.

“Am I insane to ask our people to attack the army,” said Khan, adding that the PTI workers were not involved in the May 9 riots and they were wrongfully declared “terrorists” for staging peaceful protests.

The cricketer-turned-politician said that his party “only wants justice in the May 9 [events]”. Elaborating on his offer to initiate dialogue, Khan said that he made the offer to hold talks only for the sake of country. “I will not strike any deal no matter how many cases they register against us,” he said adding that a deal is sought by those who had committed any wrongdoing. He also admitted that he had not received any offer for negotiations so far.

The former premier claimed that “railoo kattay” in the government were provoking the army against the PTI, just to eliminate it. He disclosed that he would present a witness in the Al-Qadir Trust case, also known as the £190m National Crime Agency (NCA) scandal, which reportedly caused a loss of £190 million pounds to the national exchequer. However, he did not disclose the name of the witness, fearing that the witness would be abducted if he exposed his identity. He further said that his party would not accept election if held under the supervision of the incumbent government.

Khan alleged that Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja organised “fraud elections” in the past and “they filled ballot boxes” during the by-polls. He also rejected categorically any interim setup under the supervision of the incumbent government and any electoral event organised by the incumbent CEC.

Meanwhile, Accountability Court Judge Nasir Javed Rana, hearing £190 million reference against Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi, adjourned the hearing till August 12 without any proceedings due to absence of lawyers. During the hearing, the cross-examination of the investigating officer Mian Umar Nadeem could not be completed. The accused were presented before the Islamabad court from Adiala jail. On behalf of NAB, Prosecutor General Sardar Muzaffar Abbasi appeared, along with a legal team.