Picture: Online
The former prime minister requests that the PPP scion "contact those for support who he ruled alongside him for 16 months." Imran Khan, the founder of the PTI, strongly rejected on Thursday supporting PPP scion Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari in forming a government in the Center following the February 8 elections.
The statements from the former prime minister were made the day after Bilawal, who is running for prime minister, stated that he "liked establishing a government with independent candidates" in an interview with Reuters.
PTI candidates are unable to run for office under the party's name or with its electoral symbol due to present PTI conditions, which informs Bilawal's approach.
The PTI had the option of fielding independent candidates to run in the upcoming elections, but on January 13, the supreme court overturned the Peshawar High Court's (PHC) January 10 order, thereby stripping the party of its iconic election symbol-a cricket bat-a serious setback to the former ruling party ahead of the general elections scheduled for February 8.
After the ex-PM's last case hearing at Adiala jail, where he is presently being held, Imran made an informal request to the media, asking Bilawal to “ask people for support who you served in government for sixteen months".
While the PPP and PML-N, along with thirteen other parties, constituted the previous PDM coalition government, the former premier stated that although these parties are currently at odds with one another, "from the inside, they are all on the same page."
Imran stated that "the establishment has all the control" and that "talks should be held with people who have the power." He added that he has been emphasizing the need for fair and transparent elections for a long time.
The former premier criticized about the arrests of his party's candidates and supporters, saying, "People should be able to bring in whoever they want. Political engineering has brought the country a lot of damage." Imran also questioned, "How are surveys being conducted when the PTI is not present in the field?"
The prime minister exclaimed about the public's support for his party, saying that it was getting harder for "them" "to control the PTI." "The establishment and Election Commission helped them in winning by-elections too," he stated that adding that despite all the parties' unity, they are still unable to beat the PTI.
Imran appealed to all party members "in hiding" to come out and support the party's electoral campaign, which begins this Sunday, lamenting the "treatment" the party is receiving and stating that "our corner meetings are invaded by police."
The founding chairman of the PTI, Imran Khan, commented on the May 9 riot cases filed against him and party members, saying, "We did not breach any law." "There were no demonstrations even when I got shot," Imran stated, alluding to his assassination attempt in November 2022 during the Wazirabad jalsa.
Cypher trial
The former prime minister stated that the Cypher trial was not an open trial since his supporters and the media were not permitted to take part.
The prosecutor told the judge during the hearing that their witnesses are still scheduled to come and go through cross-examination.
In an earlier conversation with the presiding court at the £190 million case hearing, Imran stated that the "drama" was scheduled for February 8 and insisted that if this was the method, then the procedures ought to be followed after the election.
Imran went on to say that all cases ought to be kept up-to-date addressing that the hearings in the Toshakhana case of former president Zardari and three-time premier Nawaz were scheduled for February 13 but that hearings in his own case were happening "daily." "A four-year-old case is heard every day, while an eight-year-old case is fixed for February 13," Imran said.