Ex-PM of Pakistan Imran Khan, jailed for corruption, seeks open dialogue with army
- Political instability since Khan’s removal helped force Pakistan to accept the IMF’s fiscal consolidation requirements
Ahead of Monday’s anniversary of his jailing on dozens of charges ranging from corruption to leaking state secrets, Khan also said in written responses to journalists’ questions that he held no grudges against the United States, whom he has also blamed for his 2022 removal 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 ousting 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.”
On Wednesday, Khan offered to hold “conditional negotiations” with the South Asian nation’s military – if “clean and transparent” elections were held and the “bogus” cases against his supporters were dropped.