- Terms cases against him part of ‘ongoing political circus’ to demoralise voters, saying Allah is ultimate planner
- Reveals he was deprived of legal right of cross-examining witnesses as ‘handlers knew it would unmask another great betrayal’
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman-for-life Imran Khan has called upon Pakistanis to use the “most powerful and meaningful weapon” of the vote to overthrow “crooks” who have been imposed on the nation.
In a message to the nation on X (erstwhile Twitter) on Friday, the PTI founding chairman said that the people of the country were well aware of the fact that all these cases against him had no legal basis, as these were part of an “on-going political circus” in the country for the past 22 months to demoralize the voters. However, they should not be disheartened, as Allah is the ultimate planner”, he stressed.
https://twitter.com/ImranKhanPTI/status/1753335118939509117
“My Pakistanis, the unfolding of the Toshakhana, Cypher, and Iddat cases only highlights their frivolous, baseless, and politically motivated nature. When the cypher case emerged, I warned that unless we dealt with it decisively, no Prime Minister in the future would be able to withstand such blatant foreign interference in Pakistan’s internal matters,” he added.
Imran Khan recalled that General Musharraf also surrendered to the US’ threats of “bombing Pakistan into stone age.” “But, to appease their masters who orchestrated the regime change operation, I was deprived of my legal right of cross-examining the witness or presenting my witnesses, as the handlers knew that it would unmask another great betrayal in our political history just like that of Mir Jaffer of Bengal,” Khan maintained.
PTI Chairman-for-life stated: “By the grace of God, I have led my life with impeccable financial integrity and credibility with the people of Pakistan donating billions of rupees for my philanthropic projects. Therefore, the Toshakhana case was concocted because no evidence of financial corruption against me could be found.”
Imran Khan went on to say that even during the sham trial, when they sensed that the trial would conclude in absolving me, they deprived me of my fundamental right to cross-examination. He further added that meanwhile, the iddat case has been expedited only because they want to create a narrative against my dream of establishing Pakistan on the principles of Riasat-e Madinah.
“Therefore, they are concluding it in haste without an iota of fairness in the trial just to announce me guilty,” he added.
“Pakistanis, you must know that all of these cases have no legal basis; they are part of an on-going political circus in the country for the past 22 months. The hasty manner in which all these cases are being concluded, is for only one purpose which is to demoralise the voters, especially the youth,” Khan revealed.
But, he urged that they must not be disheartened, as Allah is the ultimate planner. “Our most powerful and meaningful weapon is that of our vote, and we must wield it to overthrow crooks who have been imposed upon us,” he concluded.
Toshakhana case verdict
An accountability court judge on January 31, found Imran and his spouse, Bushra Bibi, guilty of misusing states’ gift repository and sentenced them to 14 years in prison.
The court also slapped a fine of Rs787 million each on the accused individuals in what is being described as the most swiftly concluded trial in accountability courts’ history.
Cypher case verdict
The special court established under the Official Secrets Act awarded on January 30, Imran and former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi 10 years imprisonment in the high-profile cypher case.
The court, presided by Judge Abul Hasnat Zulqarnain, announced the verdict during the hearing held within the premises of Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail.
Before sentencing Imran, the judge asked the former premier one last time where the cypher was.
“I have mentioned in my statement that the Prime Minister House’s security was not my responsibility. I don’t have the cypher,” he stated.
The judge also provided the two PTI leaders with copies of the statement and the questionnaire under Section 342 and both accused were asked to record their replies in the questionnaire.
After Imran and Qureshi recorded their statements under Section 342, the court announced its verdict.
Iddat case hearing
Khawar Maneka, the former husband of Bushra, has made damning accusations against Imran during the ongoing hearing of the ‘un-Islamic’ nikkah case at Adiala jail.
In a heated courtroom exchange, Maneka claimed that the illicit relationship between Bushra and Khan started during the 2014 sit-in, accusing Khan of ruining his home. The incident unfolded before Judge Qudratullah, who presided over the proceedings.
Tensions ran high during the hearing, with Maneka, Khan and Bushra engaging in a quarrel. Despite the turmoil, Maneka managed to record his statement. Bushra’s lawyer, Usman Riaz Gul, cross-examined Maneka, leading to further confrontations. Gul allegedly attempted to physically assault Maneka, threatening to throw him out of the courtroom.
Imran Khan, addressing the judge, expressed his willingness to take an oath on the Holy Quran, challenging Maneka to do the same. Imran insisted that he first saw Bushra Bibi on the day of their marriage and claimed that the accusations against him were false.
Maneka vehemently denied Imran’s statement, accusing him of destroying his home and urging the latter to fear God. The court considered the possibility of both parties taking oaths on the Holy Quran, emphasising that after doing so, the right of cross-examination would cease.
