Don’t count on Trump for Imran Khan’s freedom, says Shah Mahmood Qureshi

PTI leader underscores Khan’s release depends on legal efforts, not on external figures.

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Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senior leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi has advised the public not to place undue expectations on former US President Donald Trump.

Speaking to the media from Adiala Jail on Thursday, Qureshi stated that Khan's release could only be achieved through steadfast legal efforts and following through on their stance, rather than relying on external figures like Trump.

He referred to speculations, including those from PTI leader Latif Khosa in November last year, suggesting Trump's return to power could ease Imran Khan's troubles and lead to his release.

Khosa suggested that Trump’s potential victory could influence Khan’s situation, stating that Trump's chances of winning the elections were bright, and he could play a role in Khan’s release once elected.

However, the then-State Department's spokesperson, Matthew Miller, had reiterated the US's non-involvement in Pakistan’s internal politics, dismissing suggestions that former prime minister Imran Khan’s legal troubles were linked to American influence.

Miller had added that the US had no role in influencing Pakistan's domestic political landscape.

Qureshi further stated that the country requires national consensus for the necessary reforms and that no individual has the capability to tackle the nation’s challenges alone.

He urged the current leadership to approach national issues with a calm, rational mindset, calling for efforts to reduce divisions and foster unity.

Reflecting on his personal experience, Qureshi noted that he had been wrongfully imprisoned for two years. "I stand here with the full testimony of my innocence, and I swear on the grave of my father that I was not present during the events of May 9, nor was I named in the original FIR. I was added to the FIR a year later," he said.

He also addressed the allegations of conspiracy and planning against him, stating, “I swear on the Quran that I was not involved in any conspiracy. If Imran Khan can swear under oath that I discussed the May 9 events with him, then I am ready to face the consequences.”

Qureshi added that he had spoken to Imran Khan about the lack of support from the party's inner circle during his time in confinement. "I asked Imran Khan, ‘Who stood with you in the inner core of Bani Gala apart from me?’ He remained silent," Qureshi recalled.

The PTI leader stressed the need for a unified national agenda, calling for a grand national agreement while suggesting that all political parties should agree on the formation of an independent and autonomous election commission capable of conducting free and fair elections.

"With a truly independent election commission, no one will suffer loss. Even if someone loses an election today, they can still win in the future,” he said.

Former foreign minister also highlighted the importance of an independent judiciary and free media, asserting that they would not harm anyone.

He contrasted the legacy of former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who is remembered for creating Pakistan's 1973 Constitution, with the current legacies of Asif Ali Zardari and Bilawal Bhutto, who, according to Qureshi, will be remembered for distorting the constitution.