Former prime minister and founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, expressed his views on the state of democracy in Pakistan, claiming that the country is on the brink of losing its freedom.
In an informal conversation with journalists at Adiala Jail, he stated, “In a fight for freedom, sacrifices must be made,” and vowed to continue resisting what he called the “enslavement” of the nation. He added that he is prepared to give up his life but would never accept subjugation.
Imran Khan announced that PTI plans to hold a rally in Lahore on September 21, regardless of whether authorities allow it or not.
Reflecting on previous attempts to block protests, he pointed out that despite barricades in Islamabad, the public still turned out in significant numbers. He raised concerns about the state of affairs in Punjab, questioning if the province had turned into a “police state” where political rallies are being suppressed.
The PTI founder also criticized the removal of PTI members from Parliament without the consent of the Speaker, warning that the actions being taken against them today could be repeated against others in the future.
He acknowledged that similar incidents occurred during his own tenure but stressed that no one had ever been removed from Parliament in this manner before.
Responding to questions about cases against political figures such as Rana Sanaullah, Imran Khan defended his position, explaining that the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) had brought the evidence against the PML-N leader during his government.
He stated that his administration had no direct involvement in framing the charges and maintained that all the evidence was provided by ANF.
The former premier further expressed concerns about human rights violations, electoral fraud, and the state of media freedom in the country, pointing out that journalists and judges are being intimidated. He warned that any efforts to silence PTI, especially regarding the proposed constitutional amendments, would be met with strong resistance and street protests.
Imran Khan further added by criticizing the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), accusing them of abandoning genuine politics and instead bowing to external pressures, while invoking their slogans of "respect the vote."
