Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Thursday referred to several cases registered against him across the country and said that every possible effort is being made to disqualify me from politics.
In an interview, the former prime minister said that they are trying their best to disqualify him before the general elections in the country. He added that “new cases are being registered” against him every other day.
To a question, Imran Khan, who was ousted from power in a no-confidence vote in April last year, said, “There is absolutely no case that can disqualify me.”
Toshakhana reference
It should be noted that Imran Khan was disqualified by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on October 21, 2022 in the Tosha Khana reference. Reference was sent under , and 223, demanding the PTI chief’s disqualification in light of the Tosha Khana scandal.
The 28-page reference identified 52 gift items from Tosha Khana received by Khan, which were snatched at nominal prices in violation of laws and regulations, and most of the gifts were sold in the market, including some expensive watches. were included.
The estimated value of the gifts has been put at over 140 million rupees. These gifts were received between August 2018 and December 2021. The next day, Khan challenged the verdict at the IHC.
‘Prohibited Funding Case’
On October 11, the FIA registered a case against the PTI chairman in the banned funding case as the agency stepped up its investigation into the matter.
In the FIR, the federal agency alleged that Abraaj Group transferred $2.1 million to PTI’s account at the bank’s Jinnah Avenue branch in Islamabad.
On 22 August 2022, the ECP declared in a unanimous decision that PTI had received prohibited funding. The case was earlier referred to as a “foreign funding” case, but later the Election Commission accepted PTI’s request to call it a “prohibited funding” case.
The commission found that donations were received from the United States, Australia, Canada and the United Arab Emirates.
The ECP verdict said that PTI received funds from 351 businesses including 34 individuals and companies.
Apart from this, the federal government had approached the Supreme Court (SC) to initiate contempt of court proceedings against Imran Khan for violating the May 25 orders.
The ECP was also taking contempt of court proceedings against Khan and other PTI leaders. The election watchdog had issued arrest warrants for Khan, Asad Umar, Fawad Chaudhry and others for not appearing before the commission on January 10.
However, the Lahore High Court suspended the arrest warrant issued by the ECP on January 16.
‘Damage is done’
Talking about the deepening crisis, Imran Khan said that the only way to economic stability in Pakistan is free and fair elections.
“The damage is done. It’s only going to get worse – the longer this government lasts,” he added.
The PTI leader expressed fear that a Sri Lanka-like situation might occur in Pakistan.
He believed that only a government supported by the people’s mandate could bring the country out of the economic crisis.
Bulletproof screens will be used in rallies
Khan said he “doesn’t feel safe”, adding that he would use bulletproof screens at rallies to avoid further attacks.
“There is no question of hiding,” he said and vowed to go out campaigning for the upcoming general elections.
In November last year, Khan was injured when a man fired at him near the party’s reception camp in Wazirabad, scaring nearby participants of the long march on November 3.
