Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has issued a stark warning about the dangers facing his nation, highlighting a growing risk of parochialism and an economy teetering on the edge of collapse. Speaking on Friday, the 71-year-old founder of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party declared that the country’s fragile economy, burdened by a severe cash shortage, was the most pressing challenge. He accused intelligence agencies of selectively targeting his political party while ignoring other political actors.
Khan asserted that while the PTI has been blamed for the recent wave of terrorism, the government has conveniently attributed these attacks to terrorists from across the border. This, he argued, is a dangerous trend leading towards a fragmented and divided nation. He emphasized that the PTI, as a national party, was uniquely positioned to address these pressing issues, unlike other regional political parties. This statement came following Khan’s attendance at a court hearing related to allegations that he and his wife, Bushra Bibi, acquired Bvlgari jewelry at a discounted price from Toshakhana, a government gift repository.
Khan argued that political parties could be the glue that binds the nation together, but ironically, the PTI, the only party with a nationwide presence, was being deliberately weakened. The former Prime Minister, who has been imprisoned at Adiala Jail Rawalpindi since August of last year on multiple charges, is currently facing over 200 cases. The government has accused him of orchestrating the May 9, 2023 riots, which followed his arrest on corruption charges and resulted in the vandalization and burning of numerous military installations. The government is planning to hold a military trial related to the May 9 events.
