Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has announced that he is willing to apologize if it is proven that members of his party, Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), were involved in the destruction of public property and attacks on the military following his arrest in May last year.
Previously, he had described not having a good relationship with the military as “foolish.”
Speaking to reporters at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi on Wednesday, August 7, Khan stated that he would apologize if he could review CCTV footage and confirm that his party members were involved in the violence.
Imran Khan and several senior members of the PTI have been accused of participating in the violence and attacks on Pakistani military centers in May of last year. After Khan’s arrest on May 9, 2023, in Lahore, angry protesters attacked military centers, including the Army Command in Rawalpindi, Lahore, and Peshawar.
The protesters set fire to several military installations, including the Army Commander’s house in Lahore. Following the violence, the Pakistani government and military arrested and imprisoned hundreds of PTI members, including senior leaders of the party.
Khan insists that his party members were not involved in the violence and attacks on military centers, claiming that the violence was orchestrated to give the government and military an excuse to suppress his party. He mentioned that his party members only used “petrol bombs” outside his residence in Lahore.
Geo News reported that Khan said, “If PTI members were involved in the violence of May 9, last year, I will expel them and personally seek their punishment.”
After spending a year in prison, Khan’s stance seems to have softened. He recently told Reuters that it would be “foolish” not to have an “excellent” relationship with the military. He also stated that he harbors no grudge against the United States.
Previously, Khan had accused the military, rival parties, and the United States of conspiring to overthrow his government in 2022, making harsh criticisms and accusations against them.
Imran Khan’s willingness to apologize and his changing stance towards the military and the United States reflect a significant shift in his approach since his arrest. These developments could potentially influence the political landscape in Pakistan, especially regarding the relationship between PTI and the military.
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