Rawalpindi: Former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder Imran Khan has revealed that he was informed in jail that if a rally were to be held in Islamabad, it could lead to widespread chaos, and as a result, he decided to postpone the event.
In an informal conversation with journalists at Adiala jail, Imran Khan shared that the Islamabad rally was postponed due to concerns over the sensitive issue of Khatm-e-Nabuwwat )PBUH), which had sparked protests by religious groups in Islamabad.
He said that if their rally had taken place, there was a significant risk of violence, similar to the events of May 9 and he wanted to avoid such a scenario. He also pointed out that since the judicial inquiry into the previous May 9 incidents was not conducted, this time possible chaos could have been counterproductive.
Imran Khan stated that if the government attempts to block the September 8 rally despite giving permission, it would bear full responsibility for the consequences.
He said that this is the credibility of the courts, they grant us permission but the administration revokes it.
Addressing his party, he insisted that they should not tolerate any obstacles this time around and announced that the postponement of the Islamabad rally was the last.
He instructed the party to hold a meeting before September 8 to decide on protests against the non-implementation of the Supreme Court’s decisions.
He urged the party leadership to remain resolute, stating that they should not back down if anyone tries to stop them.
When asked by a journalist about his demand for an open trial of Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed, Imran Khan responded that as the leader of the country’s largest political party, he had been fighting within the constitutional framework for 28 years.
He asserted that if Faiz was involved in the events of May 9, then an open trial should be conducted, as this is a military matter and not an international secret.
The PTI founder also mentioned that if the Hamoodur Rahman report had been implemented, democracy would have thrived in the country, and three martial laws and the current undeclared martial law could have been avoided.
He described May 9 as an attack on democracy and said he called for the formation of a commission to prevent such incidents from happening in the future.
When asked with who he send a message Azam Swati, Khan laughed off the journalist’s question, refusing to answer how he had access to a phone in jail.
Imran Khan was also questioned about an audio recording of his sister, in which she claimed that he had not asked to postpone the rally. I
n response, he acknowledged that the entire party was upset and angry about the decision to postpone, and he personally believed the rally should have gone ahead. However, he reassured that rallies would be held in every district.
He said that no discussions had taken place with the government about the rally, but the decision to postpone was made to avoid potential chaos.
He further pointed out that while the courts allow PTI to hold the rally, the administration cancels the NOC. He asserted that PTI is the only party in the country that is repeatedly denied permission to hold the rally in Islamabad.
Meanwhile, during the hearing, Imran Khan appeared cheerful and content, smiling as he received an electric toothbrush and some books — a year after his initial request for them.