Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan on Tuesday claimed he is closing all “doors to negotiations” from now onwards, adding this included the establishment as well as his party’s political rivals.
“The [military] establishment has deceived us,” he told journalists during an informal interaction at Adiala Jail, where he remains incarcerated. “From today, I am closing all doors to negotiations. We will not negotiate with anyone, including the establishment. I am instructing the party not to engage in any dialogue with the establishment,” he added.
According to Khan, he had earlier designated six people to negotiate on the PTI’s behalf with the establishment but they would now be instructed to cease all such efforts. In the past, Khan has repeatedly asserted that he is only willing to talk with the establishment, adding he sees no point in engaging with his “powerless” political rivals.
“What do they [establishment] think of me?” continued the former prime minister. “Do they see me as weak? I was willing to talk for the sake of Pakistan, but if you’re not serious, my doors are now closed,” he added.
A day earlier, Khan had claimed that he had deferred the PTI’s Islamabad rally from Aug. 22 till Sept. 8 at the “establishment’s request,” adding this message was conveyed to him through Azam Swati. “Whether we are granted permission or not, we will hold a rally in Lahore on Sept. 21,” he said, referring to the PTI’s planned “power show” in the Punjab capital, which the district administration has already hinted is unlikely to receive requisite permission.
During the media interaction, the PTI founder was also questioned on the controversy arising from remarks uttered by Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur at the Islamabad rally. In his speech, Gandapur had threatened to break Khan out of jail through force if he were not “legally” released within 2 weeks and had also used inappropriate language against journalists, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, and various institutions.
“I stand with Ali Amin Gandapur. Anyone who apologizes for his statement is a coward and should not be in party [PTI],” he said. “They should leave us. From today, I am telling my party, no dialogue with the establishment,” he reiterated.
To a question on the impression that Gandapur’s remarks had appeared to incite rebellion, Khan maintained this was inaccurate. “What rebellion have we done? Ali Amin Gandapur has merely expressed the emotions of the nation. He is right everyone should own it,” he said.
To another question on Senator Faisal Vawda alleging the involvement of Imran Khan and Lt. Gen. (retd.) Faiz Hameed in the assassination of journalist Arshad Sharif, the PTI founder said “everyone” knew whose “mouthpiece” Vawda was. “Faisal Vawda used to follow me around that I will arrange a meeting with General Faiz Naseer,” he said. “If you want to conduct an open trial in the Arshad Sharif murder case, everything will come to light,” he added.
To another question on Gandapur going incommunicado for several hours on Monday night, Khan claimed the KP chief minister was “taken by the establishment.”
The PTI founder also discussed a recent statement of Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa in which the latter refused to take any extension to his tenure. “I don’t believe Qazi has refused; this is just a drama. The legislation is being made specifically to bring him in and give him extension,” he said, referring to rumors of a bill aimed at extending the retirement age of senior judges.
“I request the higher judiciary to protect democracy and the rule of law. There is an undeclared martial law in the country at the moment,” he claimed. “I tell the nation to prepare to take to the streets for the supremacy of democracy and the rule of law. A package is being brought to bring Qazi Faez Isa in,” he alleged.