1 week Ago By Imran Mukhtar
ISLAMABAD - Incarcerated former prime minister Imran Khan on Friday said that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) does not need the establishment, rather it were the powers-that-be, which need his party. “Let’s settle this myth once and for all: PTI does not need the establishment, the establishment needs PTI. Only a government with a legitimate public mandate can steer this country out of chaos,” said PTI founder Khan in a special message from jail on his party’s 29th Foundation Day.
In a statement posted on his X handle, which is being operated from outside the jail, the ex-premier said the PTI was not just a political party; it was a movement. “A movement that stands boldly against unconstitutional forces, defends the independence of the judiciary, and demands the complete autonomy of all state institutions,” he said and added, “We want a Pakistan where the Election Commission, NAB, police, and every institution of the State, is free from interference, and manipulation, and loyal only to the Constitution.” CM Maryam inspects cleanliness along GT Road He claimed that the PTI has emerged as the largest and most popular political force in Pakistan’s history.
“On February 8th, 2024, despite a brutal crackdown, mass arrests, blackouts, and a complete ban on campaigning, the people of Pakistan rose up and delivered a stunning, undeniable verdict, a two-thirds majority proving that real power lies with the people, and the people stand with Imran Khan and PTI.” He went on to say that the PTI did not need to rely on electables. “We survived state terror, unconstitutional oppression, and total media censorship and emerged stronger, proving that PTI is an indomitable and resilient force,” he added.
He alleged that the country has been turned into a banana republic. “The rule of law is dead. Institutions are paralyzed.
No investor will touch Pakistan under such lawlessness,” he said, adding that countries do not progress through foreign currency remittances alone. Foreign Direct Investment — the true engine of growth has fallen to historic lows. NA session likely soon to condemn India For our country to emerge from the severe political, economic and security crises it is facing, we need the bold leadership of a political party with broad public support, which can deliver real accountability, enforce the Constitution, and implement deep institutional reforms, Khan said.
PTI is the only party that can do this, he added. Earlier in the day, the central PTI leadership passed a unanimous resolution at an event held at the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa House to celebrate the party’s Foundation Day. The resolution condemned the recent unilateral actions and allegations by India against Pakistan, following the Pahalgam attack.
“We resolve that like the past, the entire nation stands by the Pakistan Army for the defence of the country,” it reads. The resolution demanded release of all political prisoners including PTI chief Khan and party’s Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi. Pakistan braces for heatwave as temperature set to rise Separately, PTI lawmakers also held a rally at the Constitution Avenue of Islamabad to demand the release of Khan on the party’s Foundation Day.
Tags: establishment pti imran.
