Negating denials issued by various Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders, former prime minister Imran Khan on Monday once again admitted that, prior to May 9, 2023, he had directed party workers to stage “peaceful” protests outside General Headquarters (GHQ), Rawalpindi, if he were arrested.
This marks the second time Khan has admitted to his role in the protests that broke out following his arrest on May 9, 2023. Last week, he had similarly told media at Adiala Jail, where he remains incarcerated, that he had directed the location of the protest. However, he asserted that the protest call was for a “peaceful” demonstration, alleging that ‘planted’ individuals within the gathered mob caused the rioting.
Khan’s latest statement rubbishes denials from PTI leaders, who had earlier claimed that journalists had “misheard” Khan and he did not accept that he had instructed them to gather at military installations for peaceful protests if he were arrested.
During Monday’s talk, Khan said he had already admitted to this in “three” videos posted on YouTube after the May 9, 2023 riots. “I had told the party to stage a peaceful protest outside GHQ if I get arrested,” he said, adding he had similarly directed for protesters to gather at cantonment areas in major cities.
To a question, Khan maintained that the protest had deteriorated into a riot due to a “pre-planned” move to discredit his party. To another question on how his recent calls urging Army chief Gen. Asim Munir to become “neutral” squared with his earlier declarations that “only animals are neutral,” Khan claimed he had misspoken during various public addresses in which he claimed “Islam does not allow us to be neutral.”
Declaring that “neutral” doesn’t mean “animal,” he said it actually refers to “apolitical” behavior. “I meant to say the Army is non-partisan,” he said.
Over the past week, the PTI has noticeably pulled back from its criticism of the Army, directing its ire toward the government that it had earlier accused of being mere puppets of the security establishment. The about-face has seemingly rattled the incumbent government, whose ministers have claimed to various media outlets that the PTI founder is attempting to broker a deal with the Army to return to power. The PTI denies this and maintains it is only seeking a neutral Army to enable it to tackle the government without interference.