Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Thursday described the September 21 rally in Lahore as a “make-or-break” moment for the party, expressing hope that both the PTI and the nation would persevere regardless of the circumstances.
Speaking to reporters at Adiala Jail, the former prime minister stated, “I’ve been imprisoned for 15 months and am prepared to endure even longer. People should not fear going to jail.” He emphasized that, for the past 28 years, he has urged the party to uphold the Constitution. “The Constitution grants us the right to assemble. I call on the nation to stand up for their future on September 21 in Lahore. The Supreme Court remains the last institution in which the people have faith. If it is destroyed, Pakistan will descend into a banana republic.”
Imran further argued that a thorough debate should have been held on the proposed constitutional amendments, accusing the government of pushing through changes under the cover of night. “Undermining the Supreme Court equates to undermining democracy, and when democracy falls, freedom is lost. When freedom is lost, people become slaves,” he remarked.
He highlighted that people have been jailed for over a year without trial, while the authorities are granting extensions to key officials through constitutional changes. According to Imran, Pakistan’s future relies on investment, but no one would invest except overseas Pakistanis.
“Zardari and Nawaz Sharif have fled the country twice before, and they will do so again, with their wealth hidden abroad,” he asserted. “During our government, NAB recovered Rs480 billion, and a further Rs1,100 billion was to be recovered. However, under NRO-2, this money was handed over, leaving NAB as a tool for revenge,” he said. Imran also questioned the business dealings of Mohsin Naqvi, who allegedly had five million dollars stashed abroad, accusing Naqvi of justifying money laundering.
In a related development, Islamabad’s Special Accountability Court adjourned the hearing of the Al-Qadir Trust case, involving Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, in the £190-million financial scandal until Friday.
During Thursday’s proceedings, Imran’s lawyer, Zaheer Abbas Chaudhry, concluded the cross-examination of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB)’s final witness and the reference’s investigation officer, Mian Umar Nadeem. NAB lawyers requested that Bushra Bibi’s attorney begin his cross-examination of the same officer, but the hearing was adjourned. Usman Riaz Gul, Bushra Bibi’s lawyer, will continue the cross-examination today (Friday).
