Pakistan's jailed former prime minister Imran Khan has ruled out an agreement with those who have "enslaved" the country, saying he is ready to serve for nine more years in prison but will never 𒉰strike a deal with them.
In a message released on Friday for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party's 28th Foundation Day, Khan said that the “worst dictatorship” was imposed on t♓he country which was becoming the basis for the “destruction" of the economy, government rule, democracy and judiciary”.
He called on every individualꦉ to play their role in stopping this descent towards🌼 the country’s ruin.
“It is my message for the nation that I will give any sacrifice required for 🎃actual freedom but will never comprom🍬ise on my or my nation’s freedom.”
Khan said he was kept behind bars for theꦛ past nine months due to “fake [and] c♍oncocted cases”.
“I will rema🌼in in jail if I have to for nine more years, or more, but I will never strike a deal with those who have enslaved my nation.”
Since his removal from power in a no-confidence motion in April 2022⛎, the 71-year-old former cricketer-turned-politician has been convicted in at least four cases. Khan has been lodged at Adia🎀la Jail at Rawalpindi after conviction in multiple cases.
Since falling out with the powerful military, Khan's party has be🥂en facing a crackdown. The party faced pressure in the form of arrests and desertions in the wake of the May 9 violence that br🙈oke out after Khan's arrest last year.
Khan's message came shortly after PTI leader Shehryar Aꦑfridi claimed that the party would have talks but not with the Bilwal Bhutto-Zardai-led Pakistan Peoples Party or the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz after their recent overtures.
“We will talk with the Army chief, the DG I[SI] and the army because the need of the hour is to𝔍 [prioritise] the coꦗuntry’s security,” Afridi said.
Terming the two parties a “re🌄jected lot”, Afridi🌊 reiterated that the party would talk with the army chief for Pakistan’s freedom and future because the country “needs” Khan.
He said the two parties only had one op🍸tion to abandon their mandate and then the PTI would decide whether to move forward w𝐆ith them or not.
Afridi claimed that it w𝔍as Khan's wish “since the first day for us to engage [with the military leade𝓡rship] but there was no response forthcoming”. He said if any “response” had come then it would have been brought before the public.
Earlier this week, PTI leader Barrister Gohar Ali Khan had claimed that ꦐKhan was being pressured to accept a “deal”.
Rejecting speculation about secret talks with the establishment, Barrister Gohar had made it clear that the party was neither interested☂ in nor holding talks with anyo🎃ne.
Independent candidates backed by Khan's PTI won more than 90 seats in the National Assembly in the February 8 general election. However, the PMN-L led by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and the 💖PPP formed a post-poll alliance and sidelined the jailed former prime minister's party from forming a federal government which assumed power last month.
