Govt left with only two months in power, predicts Imran Khan

• Govt plunging into quagmire but rulers don't understand: ex-premier.
• Says "wrong perception was created that I sought unconditional apology".
• Politico claims ready to present witness in Al-Qadir Trust case.

Despite waiting for talks with stakeholders in power, jailed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan has predicted that the incumbent government led by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is only left with two months in the government.

"The government is plunging into quagmire, however, they [rulers] are fool and unable to understand," he said this in an informal conversation with journalists in makeshift courtroom setup inside Rawalpindi's Adiala Jail on Thursday.

"I am predicting this from prison that this government has only two months," the PTI founder said adding that he has enough time but the incumbent rulers are running out of time.

Referring to his Wednesday statement on conditional apology over the May 9 riots, the former premier stated that a wrong perception was created that he had sought an unconditional apology.

The PTI founder reiterated that he would apologise if the PTI activists were found involved in the violent protests that broke out in the country last year following his arrest from the Islamabad High Court (IHC) premises in a corruption case.

The violent protests saw attacks on public properties including military installations in many parts of the country, prompting the civil and military leadership to try the rioters under the Army Act.

"Am I insane to ask our people to attack the army," said Khan, adding, that the PTI workers were not involved in the May 9 riots and they were wrongfully declared "terrorists" for staging peaceful protests.

The cricketer-turned-politician said that his party "only wants justice in the May 9 [events]". Elaborating on his offer to initiate dialogue, Khan said that he made the offer to hold talks only for the sake of the country.

"I will not strike any deal no matter how many cases they register against us," he said adding that a deal is sought by those who had committed any wrongdoing.

He also clarified that he has not received any offer for negotiations so far.

The politico claimed that he would present a witness in the Al-Qadir Trust case — also known as the £190m National Crime Agency (NCA) scandal which reportedly caused a loss of £190 million pounds to the national exchequer.

However, he did not disclose the name of the witness, fearing that the witness would be abducted if he disclosed his identity.

He further said that his party would not accept election if held under the supervision of the incumbent government.

Khan alleged that the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja had organised "fraud elections" in the past and "they filled ballot boxes" during the by-polls.

The PTI founder categorically rejected the acceptance of an interim setup under the supervision of the incumbent government and any electoral event organised by the present CEC.

A day earlier, the PTI founder had linked seeking apology over the May 9 riots with the video of evidence of the May 9 incidents, stating that he would not only apologise but also sack party members if their involvement is established through CCTV footage.

The PTI chief, who has been incarcerated in Rawalpindi's Adiala Jail, has time and again distanced his party from the protests, alleging that the riots were pre-planned and staged to launch a crackdown on the opposition party.

"I will sack and myself seek punishment for the PTI members if they were found involved [in the May 9 incidents]," he had stated.

The incarcerated party founder had also referred to the recent press briefing by Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) Lieutenant General Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry, saying that the chief military spokesperson had stated that mafias were funding the anti-Pakistan campaign.

"You told us the stories of corruption by [PML-N President] Nawaz Sharif and [President Asif Ali) Zardari. But the same people were imposed on the country after rigging the general elections," he said.

The Pakistan Army is a national institution and it is the responsibility of every Pakistani to defend it, said the embattled leader.

The PTI founder said he was seeking talks with the establishment for the sake of the country and added that he would not hold talks if the other party was not interested.

On Monday, the DG ISPR rejected reports of talks with the PTI leadership maintaining that there was no change in the stance of the Pakistan Army on the May 9 violent protests.

"Army's stance on [May 9] is clear, which was conveyed in the May 7 [2024] press conference. There has been no change in that nor there will be," he said while briefing the media on the country's security situation at Rawalpindi's General Headquarters (GHQ).