Islamabad, January 17, 2025 – Following his conviction in the £190 million Al-Qadir Trust case, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and former Prime Minister Imran Khan issued his first response on social media, invoking his famous mantra: “Sab se pehle toh aap ne ghabrana nahin hai” (“First and foremost, don’t panic”).
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Khan labeled the verdict as predictable, alleging that it had been preordained and leaked to the media prior to its announcement. “From delays in announcing the decision to the sentencing itself, everything is leaked to the media beforehand. I have never seen such a farce in judicial history. The same people who wrote the judgment for the judge also leaked it to the media,” Khan claimed.
Khan rejected what he termed as “dictatorial rule” and vowed to resist. “I will never accept this dictatorship. No matter how long I am kept in a prison cell, I will remain steadfast. I will not compromise on my principles or abandon the fight for the nation’s true freedom,” he declared.
Reaffirming his commitment to achieving “true independence, democracy, and the rule of law,” Khan emphasized, “There will be no deals. I will confront all fabricated cases against me head-on. The fight will continue until the very last ball.”
The former premier urged the public to read the Hamoodur Rahman Commission Report, drawing parallels between current events and General Yahya Khan’s rule. “Just as Yahya Khan destroyed the country, today’s dictators are doing the same—sacrificing the nation’s future for their personal benefit and bringing Pakistan to the edge of collapse,” he asserted.
Khan also criticized the judiciary, accusing it of eroding its credibility. “The judiciary has further damaged its integrity with this unjust decision in the Al-Qadir Trust case. Judges who support dictatorship and follow orders are rewarded,” he alleged.
He claimed the case should have been directed at former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his sons, accusing them of dubious financial dealings with real estate tycoon Malik Riaz. “Why isn’t anyone questioning how Nawaz Sharif and his sons sold a £9 billion property in the UK to Malik Riaz for £18 billion? Where did that initial £9 billion come from? They have yet to provide receipts in the Panama Papers case,” Khan argued.
Additionally, he accused former Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa of aiding corruption. “In collusion with Qazi Faez Isa, billions in money laundering under the Hudaibiya Paper Mills case were written off,” he alleged.
Khan concluded his statement by reaffirming his resolve to continue fighting for justice and freedom, vowing not to succumb to what he described as political victimization.
