Amid the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) seeking dialogue with the influential entities behind the scenes, imprisoned former prime minister Imran Khan has announced plans to address Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir regarding the deteriorating economic and political circumstances in the financially strained nation.
During an exchange with reporters at Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail, Imran indicated, “I intend to correspond with the army chief regarding the current state of affairs in the country.”
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This statement follows recent developments where Imran delegated a significant role to former president Dr. Arif Alvi, who has been actively involved in efforts to mend relations between the establishment and the former ruling party.
Imran, ousted from power through a parliamentary vote in April of the previous year, assigned Alvi this responsibility after declining the military’s request for an apology concerning the May 9 riots. He also distanced his party from the violent protests that ensued following his arrest.
Regarding the £190 million settlement case, Imran clarified that the Britain’s National Crime Agency (NCA) had seized the funds due to “suspicious transactions” rather than money laundering. Under his government, the NCA confiscated assets totaling £190 million from a property magnate.
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Imran explained that if the case proceeds in a civil court, the funds may not return to Pakistan for another five years. He also mentioned that both a private party and the UK’s NCA had urged not to disclose the agreement details.
When asked about calling former special assistant to the prime minister (SAPM) on accountability Shehzad Akbar and Farhat Shahzadi alias Farah Gogi to validate his innocence, Imran stated that he had only met Gogi thrice, and those meetings pertained to his wife. Regarding Akbar, he implied that Akbar’s return to Pakistan could lead to his apprehension.
It’s worth noting that an accountability court in Rawalpindi indicted Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi in the £190 million reference in February 2024. This case revolves around an NAB inquiry into a settlement between the PTI government and a property tycoon, allegedly causing a loss of £190 million to the national exchequer.