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Imran to Offer Apology with Conditions for May 9 Events

Sharif and Zaradri’s Family, Others Will Flee Pakistan, Imran Khan Predicts,

Rawalpindi(Mudassar Iqbal);Imran to Offer Apology with Conditions for May 9 Events,Former Prime Minister Imran Khan has announced his intention to offer a conditional apology for the events that transpired on May 9. Khan’s decision comes after widespread criticism and calls for accountability regarding the incidents that occurred on that day.

We are the victims of May 9 as more than 10,000 workers of our party were arrested and we were not allowed to contest elections,” he told journalists in an informal conversation at the Adiala Jail on Wednesday.

“We want justice. If I was afraid of May 9 events then I wouldn’t have called for a judicial commission to probe the riots.”

In May, the military’s spokesperson said that any dialogue with the PTI could happen only if it “earnestly apologises publicly in front of the nation”, promises to adopt “constructive politics” and forgoes “politics of anarchy”. This had come after the PTI’s demand for talks with the establishment.

I will sack and seek punishment for the PTI members if they were found involved [in the May 9 incidents],” he added.

Apparently referring to his arrest on May 9 last year, the PTI founder lamented that he was “dragged” by Rangers. “There is no respect for a popular person in Pakistan and globally,” he added.

“Don’t you feel obliged to apologise to me?” asked the PTI founder.

The latest statement came as the PTI founder has apparently lowered his political rhetoric lately and offered holding talks with the military.

Imran Khan predicted that members of the ruling elite including Nawaz Sharif, Shahbaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz and others will flee Pakistan, citing the example of former Bangladeshi president Hasina Wajid, who was previously exiled. Khan’s remarks suggested that the current leadership’s alleged corruption and mismanagement will ultimately lead to their downfall and potential exile.”

Imran Urges Harmony with Military, Cautions Against “Foolish” Rift

Ahead of Monday’s anniversary of his jailing on dozens of charges ranging from corruption to leaking state secrets, Khan told Reuters that it would be “foolish” not to have “excellent” relations with the army.

He also stated in a written responses to Reuters questions that he held no grudges against the United States, whom he has also blamed for his 2022 ouster from office.

“Given Pakistan’s geographical position and the military’s significant role in the private sector, it would be foolish not to foster such a relationship,” Khan wrote in replies relayed by his media and legal team.

“We are proud of our soldiers and armed forces,” he said.

Khan said his criticisms since his ouster had been directed at individuals, not the military as an institution.

“The miscalculations of the military leadership shouldn’t be held against the institution as a whole.”

Last week, Khan offered to hold “conditional negotiations” with the military — if “clean and transparent” elections were held and the “bogus” cases against his supporters were dropped.

“We are open to any dialogue that could help improve the dire situation in Pakistan,” he said, adding that it was useless to open any such talks with the coalition government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, which he says does not enjoy public backing because he claims it won a stolen election in February.

Rather, Khan said, it would be “more productive to engage with those who actually wield power”.

On Monday, Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) Lieutenant General Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry rejected reports of talks with the PTI leadership maintaining that there was no change in stance of the Pakistan Army on the May 09 violent protests.

“Army’s stance on [May 9] is clear, which was conveyed in the May 7 [2024] press conference. There has been no change in that nor there will be,” he said while briefing the media on the country’s security situation at Rawalpindi’s General Headquarters (GHQ).

Khan’s imprisonment has added to the political volatility in the country, which has experienced a prolonged economic crisis and last month received a bailout from the International Monetary Fund.

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