Former Prime Minister Imran Khan dismissed critics who labeled him an “Israel supporter” based on an article in an Israeli newspaper, calling them “naive.” Speaking to reporters after a hearing in the Toshakhana case at Adiala Jail on Monday, Khan reiterated his previous position on Israel, asserting that he has been misrepresented as a strong advocate for normalizing ties with the country.
The article in The Jerusalem Post referenced Khan’s potential role in fostering relations between the Muslim world and Israel. Khan contended that those spreading propaganda against him had misinterpreted the article, possibly due to their “limited understanding of the English language.” He noted that the piece simply acknowledged his reputation in both the Muslim world and Western nations.
Khan reiterated his stance that Israeli forces are committing genocide against the Palestinian people and that dialogue with Israel could only commence after a ceasefire is established.
The PTI leader announced that his party would organize a rally in Rawalpindi and indicated that party officials had been instructed to prepare for a show of strength next week. He claimed that PTI had conducted more public gatherings than any other political party in the country.
He pointed out that during a recent rally in Lahore, permission was granted only a day in advance, and access to the venue was obstructed with containers. Nevertheless, he noted that supporters reached the location on foot despite PTI not providing refreshments.
Khan also claimed that around 500 PTI workers had been put under house arrest and condemned the local administration for closing the rally at 6 PM. He cautioned that PTI would launch mass protests if the government moved forward with the proposed constitutional package.
Earlier, the FIA prosecution presented the charges in the Toshakhana case, which included a list of 24 witnesses. The allegations accuse Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, of corruption and corrupt practices related to retaining an expensive jewelry set at an unusually low price.
