Imran Khan Stands Firm on His Protest Directive Despite PTI Denials

Former Pakistan PM Imran Khan reaffirms directing PTI workers to stage a peaceful protest outside GHQ before his May 2023 arrest. PTI denies his statement, while Khan maintains his stance amidst multiple ongoing legal battles.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan has once again reiterated that he instructed his party workers to hold a peaceful protest outside the military's General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi before his arrest on May 9, 2023. Geo News reported that despite PTI's denials, Khan stands firm on his earlier statements.

The former Pakistan PM recently acknowledged his directive to PTI workers to protest outside the GHQ before his arrest last year. Despite this, PTI leaders, including former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser, have categorically denied Khan's admission.

In a conversation with reporters, Imran Khan emphasized that he had told the party to stage a peaceful protest if he were arrested. He clarified that his instructions aimed at cantonment areas in Rawalpindi were reiterated multiple times during his probe.

Khan addressed allegations regarding the May 9 protests, which escalated to attacks on state properties. He asserted that the unrest was pre-planned and clarified his earlier controversial statement about neutrality, emphasizing that the army should remain non-partisan.

The former PM faces several cases connected to the May 9 riots. Violent clashes erupted nationwide following his arrest, with attacks targeting military installations. Both the previous and current governments have accused Khan and senior PTI members of orchestrating these attacks.

Imran Khan, who served as Pakistan's PM from 2018 to 2022, has been detained in Adiala Jail since August 2023 on various charges, including the Toshakhana case, subsequent to his acquittal in the iddat case.

(With inputs from agencies.)