Imran khan expresses willingness to negotiate with military

RAWALPINDI: Imran Khan, the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), expressed his party’s willingness to negotiate with the military.

During a court hearing at Adiala jail, Khan stated, “We are ready to engage in talks with the military”. The army should appoint a representative for these negotiations.

Khan, who has been detained for nearly a year, clarified that his party had not accused the army but had only offered criticisms. He also emphasized that any PTI member found guilty of involvement in the May 9, 2023, riots should face consequences.

Khan accused the current government of trying to undermine PTI by creating a misunderstanding between his party and the military.

When questioned about seeking talks with the military instead of political parties, he questioned the legitimacy of certain officials, including Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, and claimed there was an “undeclared martial law.”

He alleged that he was unlawfully detained from the judicial complex and criticized the Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Aamer Farooq, requesting his recusal from the case and urging that it be handled by other judges.

Khan’s comments came after he reaffirmed a previous statement about directing PTI workers to stage a peaceful protest outside the military’s General Headquarters before his arrest last year.

His party had disputed media reports about this admission. Additionally, Khan revised his earlier 2022 remark that “only animals are neutral,” explaining that he meant to describe the army as apolitical, not as animals.