Imran vows to fight 'tyranny'
Former prime minister and PTI founding chairman Imran Khan, now entrenched in deep legal troubles, has categorically rejected the idea of striking a deal for his freedom after being convicted in the £190 million Al-Qadir Trust case.
Speaking to reporters inside the courtroom following his conviction on Friday, the beleaguered leader took a defiant stance, vowing to uphold his principles, no matter the cost.
"I will neither make any deal nor seek any relief. Those who stand against dictatorship are punished," Imran said, as PTI leaders denounced the verdict outside Adiala Jail, where tensions ran high following the long-anticipated decision.
The PTI leaders declared the day a "black day" for the country, denouncing the verdict as a continuation of the government's ongoing "political victimisation" of the former ruling party.
Meanwhile, a post on Imran's X account shared a message from the imprisoned leader, urging supporters not to lose hope, calling the judgment a "joke".
"I will never accept this dictatorship," the post read. "I am prepared to remain in a prison cell for as long as it takes in the struggle against this tyranny. I will not compromise on my principles or the fight for the true freedom of the nation. I will not strike any deals and will face all the baseless cases against me."
Imran accused the judiciary of being complicit in undermining its own credibility. "Following the grim verdict in the Al-Qadir Trust case, the judiciary has further eroded its credibility," he stated.
"Judges who support tyranny and act on directives are rewarded. The judges nominated for the Islamabad High Court have only one qualification: delivering rulings against me."
Imran alleged the verdict was premeditated. "The outcome of the case was known to everyone beforehand. Whether it was the delay in the verdict or the discussions regarding sentencing, everything was leaked to the media in advance," he said, further alleging that "the same person who dictated the verdict to the judge also leaked it to the media."
He also questioned the futility of ongoing negotiations with the government, especially without progress on PTI's demands for judicial probes into key events, including the May 9, 2023, protests and the November 26, 2024, incidents.
"Dishonest individuals never allow neutral umpires to intervene," he asserted. "The government is avoiding the demand for a judicial commission because it is dishonest."
PTI leaders rally
Outside the jail, PTI leaders minced no words in condemning the verdict. Barrister Gohar said: "The behaviour of the court has been unjust. Khan sahib has not benefitted from a single rupee from this matter. He is merely a trustee, not the owner of the Al-Qadir University Project".
He added, "It is shameful that a woman, a trustee of a philanthropic project for educating children, has been sentenced to seven years in prison."
PTI leader Omar Ayub questioned the selective application of justice. "Why has Hassan Nawaz not been questioned about how he took money out of Pakistan to buy property in Hyde Park? We condemn this, and we will challenge the verdict in superior courts," he said.
Shibli Faraz lambasted the judicial system, stating: "While thieves roam freely, the innocent and honest are punished. In a country where neither the rule of law nor the supremacy of the constitution exists, plunderers are deemed respectable."
Faraz added, "The majority of Pakistanis either languish in jails or struggle with life's hardships, consumed by inflation. This is a black day, one we strongly condemn."
PTI lawyer Faisal Chaudhry termed the decision "the political use of NAB." He said, "There was no evidence of monetary gain, crime proceeds, or financial corruption. This is a nonsensical decision of a nonsensical case."
"Today is a black day. The public's rights are being robbed. This is another attempt at politically targeting Imran Khan. Courts have failed to protect citizens' rights or deliver justice in accordance with the law," he lamented.
'Murder of justice'
Mahmood Khan Achakzai, the chairman of the Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) and head of the opposition alliance Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Aaeen-e- Pakistan, expressed his strong condemnation of the decision, saying, "No matter how much we condemn today's verdict, it's still less".
"We completely reject this decision and will take it to every possible forum."
He said that if Imran agreed to stay silent and not speak against the government, he would be released, but Achakzai said, "We don't want such freedom. We will win this battle with the power of the people".
Majlis-e-Wahdat-ul-Muslimeen chief Allama Raja Nasir Abbas also lambasted the ruling, saying that Pakistan was facing a crisis, with rulers playing "the worst games".
He termed the verdict "a murder of justice," asserting that those who make decisions against the law should not remain judges. "The people of Pakistan reject this decision," he added, declaring that "the oppressors will ultimately face defeat."
Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) Chairman Sahibzada Hamid Raza also condemned the verdict, stating that the ruling party's allies knew about the decision in advance.
"The judge who passed this verdict is now branded with a stain," he said. "The PTI founding chairman said that whatever they do, it will only bring shame. His only mistake is not bowing down. He will emerge victorious and be freed from jail."
PTI's MNA Zartaj Gul expressed her solidarity with Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi, saying, "No matter how much they try to break the founding chairman of PTI, they can neither intimidate nor bend him. Bushra Bibi is dragged into every case."
"We stand with Imran Khan, and we will seek justice in every court. He will come out of Adiala Jail through the front door, without any deal. We will never abandon him, and Imran Khan will never abandon Pakistan," the PTI leader vowed.