London, November 15,2024- A renowned British newspaper The Guardian has claimed that Pakistan’s military has no intention of entering into negotiations or cutting a deal with incarcerated former prime minister Imran Khan. The newspaper while quoting senior military leadership said that said Imran Khan would be willing to engage with the army leadership from his jail cell.
Khan, who is being held in Pakistan’s Adiala jail, is banned from meeting journalists but the Guardian was able to submit questions through his legal team.
In his responses, Khan said he has had “no personal engagement with the military” since he was arrested and imprisoned in August last year.
However, he said he would not rule out doing a deal with Pakistan’s powerful military establishment, despite previously accusing them of bringing down his government and being behind his incarceration.
“With regards to doing a deal with the military, any engagement would be based on principles and in the interest of the people, not personal gain or compromises that undermine Pakistan’s democratic values,” Khan told the Guardian.
He added that he would “rather live the rest of my life in prison than compromise on my principles.”
It is widely acknowledged that Khan, a former superstar cricketer, was helped into power in 2018 with the backing of the military, long seen as the kingmakers of Pakistani politics and whose interference has often been an obstacle to the country’s fraught path to democracy.
Response of the Military leadership
Behind the scenes, senior military leadership said that for the past few months Khan has been applying pressure for discussions with the military and had offered “unconditional” talks as he sought a deal to ensure his release.
However, senior military figures are said to be resolute in refusing to enter into any negotiations with Khan. “Khan has to face the court cases against him, and can’t expect any deals from the military. Khan wants everyone to follow the rule of law, but he does not want this rule of law for himself,” said one military source.
In response to the constitutional amendments and the allegedly rigged election, this week Khan issued a “final call” for a PTI protest due to be held in the capital Islamabad on 24 November. The party has been facing an ongoing crackdown since Khan was arrested, with most of the party’s leadership either in jail or exile.
