Imran Khan Criticizes Government and Calls for New Elections

ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Imran Khan on Tuesday dispelled the impression of any forward bloc in the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and asserted that a decision regarding the PTI deserters was yet to be taken.

After the trial in the £190 million corruption reference, the court granted post-arrest bail to his wife, Bushra Bibi. Mr Khan mentioned that there were “no major differences” among the party leaders, yet he acknowledged a division among some of them. He shared his intention to address this issue during their forthcoming visit to Adiala jail on July 4.

Referring to the US Congress resolution on Pakistani elections, he mentioned that both national and international media had raised concerns about the transparency of the Feb 8 elections. He criticized the government for rejecting the resolution and stated that it was crucial for introspection at this time. He emphasized that the resolution should not be labeled as US “interference” because it raised questions about election transparency, unlike the cipher that “threatened” the elected regime. Additionally, he reiterated his stance on Donald Lu’s involvement in Pakistan’s domestic affairs.

He also criticised the government for burdening people with taxes and price hike, instead of cutting its own expenses in the financial budget. He warned that the budget would boost inflation.

Bushra Bibi granted bail in £190 million graft case

This was the moment to lift the country out of crisis, he asserted, proposing a fair and transparent new election as the sole remedy. He emphasized that a government elected with the public’s mandate could implement reforms to rejuvenate the economy and alleviate the hardships of the common man.

Mr Khan complained that while former premier Nawaz Sharif had been allowed to hold meetings with scores of party leaders in jail, he was denied even a plain paper. He also accused the intelligence officials of managing the jail administration.

The former PM has already filed a petition before the Islamabad High Court (IHC) seeking judicial intervention in the affairs of Rawalpindi Central Jail, alleging that the prison was being managed by the officials of the spy agency. In the petition filed through his counsel Shoaib Shaheen, Mr Khan claimed that the prison was virtually controlled by some major and colonel of ISI.

Bail granted to Bushra Bibi

Earlier, Judge Mohammad Ali Warraich of the accountability court granted post-arrest bail to Mr Khan’s spouse Bushra Bibi in £190m corruption case.

During the hearing, the NAB’s deputy prosecutor general, Sardar Muzaffar Khan Abbasi, informed the judge that the NAB chairman had never issued arrest warrants for Bushra Bibi in this case. As a result, the court granted her bail. However, she remained in custody due to her conviction in the Iddat case.

During the trial proceeding, the judge concluded the cross-examination of three more witnesses. In all, 27 witnesses have been cross-examined in the case so far.

NAB special prosecutor Amjad Pervaiz informed the Islamabad High Court that the trial of the ex-premier and his spouse was nearing conclusion while wrapping up the arguments on Mr Khan’s bail plea in the case.

He said that about 10 to 15 witnesses out of 59 prosecution witnesses would be dropped.

The crux of the accusations against Mr. Khan, as inferred from the context, is that during his tenure as the prime minister, he, based on a memorandum from Mirza Shahzad Akbar, chair of the Assets Recovery Unit (ARU), presented the issue to the federal cabinet on Dec 3, 2019. He obtained approval for carrying out a confidentiality agreement regarding the legal framework pact between the National Crime Agency, the United Kingdom (NCA, UK), and Malik Riaz’s family for the return of £190m to the Supreme Court accounts. These accounts were set up for settling Bahria Town (Pvt) Limited’s financial obligations related to the land allocated to them in Malir.