Imran refuses to eat humble pie

Responds to military's hard-hitting press conference, asserts apology should rather come his way

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founding chairman Imran Khan has refused to bend to the military's demands, rejecting calls to apologise for the May 9 events and distancing his party from last year's violent protests that erupted across the nation following his arrest.

"Why should the onus be on me to apologise? The apology should be directed towards me," the ousted prime minister said during a casual interaction with reporters at Adiala Jail on Wednesday.

Imran, facing a slew of charges from corruption to breaches of the Official Secrets Act, remained unwavering in his position.

The incarcerated leader's defiance came in response to the Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) press conference on Tuesday, where he urged those implicated in the May 9 violent protests to seek forgiveness and abandon the politics of "anarchy" before engaging in any dialogue.

During the hours-long press conference, the chief military spokesperson categorically dismissed the possibility of engaging in dialogue with individuals who targeted military installations and disrespected the nation’s martyrs.

Furthermore, he said that those accused and responsible for the May 9 events would face consequences in accordance with the Constitution and the law.

During Wednesday's media talk, the former prime minister also said that he was ready for any inquiry into his party’s 2014 sit-in after the chief military spokesperson hinted at a judicial probe into the event.

Read more: Army wants Imran to apologise, shun politics of 'anarchy'

“I will be happy if I am presented before the inquiry committee. All the allegations levelled against me regarding the 2014 sit-in are false… the 2013 election was the election of ROs,” he said.

Imran Khan also questioned the feasibility of negotiations with the federal government in light of former caretaker prime minister Anwarul Haq Kakar's reference to Form-47.

Kakar, while having a heated exchange with PML-N leader Hanif Abbasi over the wheat scandal, had reportedly hinted at dropping a bombshell regarding Form-47, insinuating that it "would leave the PML-N red-faced".

He further alleged that PML-N members had suggested no elections would occur and Nawaz Sharif would not return to the country until Justice Qazi Faiz Isa became the chief justice.

He criticised the electoral processes, asserting that elections for president, prime minister, Punjab chief minister, and Senate were fraudulent. He claimed that private conversations with PML-N members revealed their belief that elections and Sharif's return hinged on Justice Qazi Faiz Isa's appointment as chief justice.

Imran said that half of his family is in the army and half in the bureaucracy. “The army belongs to us, and we have no conflicts with it,” he asserted.

“I only came to know about the events of May 9 when I was presented in the Supreme Court… I condemned the events of May 9 in front of the then chief justice Umar Atta Bandial,” he said.

“For God’s sake, don't drag army into politics… we have never indulged in agitation in our 27-year history… we dissolved two governments [in Punjab and at Centre] for elections because our political party does not want chaos,” the incarcerated leader said.