Imran not shy in calling for 'peaceful protest'

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan reiterated on Monday that he had directed his party to hold a peaceful protest outside the General Headquarters (GHQ) and cantonments if he was arrested by the personnel of the armed forces.

During an informal conversation with journalists at Adiala Jail, the PTI founder said, "My statement about the protest outside the GHQ was highlighted in a manner as if I confessed to committing a crime on May 9. I made three Vlogs and mentioned it 12 times in police investigations."

He claimed that he had evidence of nefarious plans to kill him outside the Judicial Complex on March 18. "I instructed the party to hold a peaceful protest outside the GHQ and cantonments if the army and Rangers arrested me," Khan pointed out.

To a question about the violence on May 9, Khan responded, "The protest wasn't peaceful because it was pre-planned and our people were in it. The CCTV footage is not being released as it will prove our innocence."

He announced his intention to approach the court regarding the missing CCTV footage, adding he will file a case against the Rangers for his alleged abduction from the high court premises. He questioned who ordered the Rangers to arrest him and who commanded the attack on the party chairman.

The PTI founder criticised the government's crackdown on social media, citing the arrest of 75-year-old cancer patient Raoof Hasan. He called for a judicial commission to ensure a transparent investigation.

"The government fears PTI and wants to dismantle it through the military," claimed Khan. He criticized the recent budget, saying it has damaged the government's credibility.

Khan defended social media as the voice of the democratic public and urged against labelling it as 'digital terrorism'. "Without criticism, institutions will be destroyed," he warned.

When reminded of his own laws penalising criticism of the military during his tenure, Khan distinguished between criticism and defamation, asserting that no journalists had fled or been killed under his government. He acknowledged that even former president Pervez Musharraf's era was more liberal.

Khan affirmed that all institutions, including national security agencies, should be open to criticism. He highlighted the acclamation the judges received on social media for ruling in PTI's favour.

The military belongs to Pakistan, not any political party, and its alignment with the current government can harm its credibility, economy and democracy, remarked the PTI founder.

In response to another question, Khan blamed the establishment for obstructing PTI in the elections and facilitating the swift clearance of corruption cases against Nawaz Sharif.

To a question about the party's future strategy, Imran Khan announced the party's rally in Swabi on August 5, terming it a demonstration of PTI's public power and a strategic move to avoid unrest.