The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has vehemently refuted recent media reports claiming that party founder Imran Khan admitted to calling for a protest outside the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi prior to his arrest on May 9. Senior PTI leader Asad Qaiser categorically denied the purported remarks, stating that Khan didn’t say what was being reported in the media. We categorically deny this,” during a talk show on a private news channel.
The controversy arose after Imran Khan, speaking to journalists from inside Adiala jail during a court hearing, acknowledged that he had indeed called for a peaceful protest outside the GHQ in response to the law enforcement’s actions at his Zaman Park residence. However, the party’s senior leadership has refuted the PTI founder’s statement, highlighting a stark contradiction in the accounts.
Imran Khan’s involvement in the May 9 riots and his subsequent arrest in a graft case have led to a series of legal entanglements. The widespread unrest following his arrest resulted in the vandalism of several military and state installations, including the Lahore Corps Commander’s residence. Blame has been consistently placed on Imran Khan and the PTI’s senior leadership for allegedly orchestrating organized attacks on military installations.
Pl subscribe to the YouTube channel of republicpolicy.com
Despite obtaining legal reprieve in some cases, Imran Khan continues to face a substantial total of 12 cases linked to the May 9 incidents, which are currently under review in an Anti-Terrorism Court. These cases include multiple filings at various police stations, with five at Sarwar Road Police Station, three at Gulberg Police Station, and individual cases at Race Course, Shadman, Mughalpura, and Model Town police stations.
In response to media reports on Imran Khan’s alleged remarks, Asad Qaiser reiterated that legal representatives present at the Adiala jail during the former PM’s interaction with journalists have refuted the attributed statement. Qaiser emphasized that Intezar Panjutha, in a press conference, explicitly stated that he was with Khan and that the reported comments were untrue, adding a layer of complexity to the conflicting narratives surrounding the PTI founder’s remarks.
