Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, currently imprisoned in Adiala Jail, has alleged a plot to move his case to a military court. Speaking to journalists, Khan accused Lt. Gen. (retd) Faiz Hameed of being used as a “pawn” to fabricate evidence against him.
Khan stated that Hameed’s arrest was a “drama” orchestrated to “frame” him and push his case into a military court. He believes the authorities are trying to make Hameed an approver, as they know the existing cases against him are “weak” and will not stand.
Khan further claimed that Hameed was being pressured to provide a statement implicating him in the May 9 incident, alleging that the authorities are seeking to extract a confession from him about a “conspiracy.” He also questioned why Hameed was arrested if he had indeed issued the arrest order and stolen CCTV footage, as the perpetrator of a conspiracy wouldn’t demand a judicial commission.
Khan accused the current regime of orchestrating a “regime change” and targeting him specifically. He expressed disbelief at the accusations against Hameed, stating that it was “shameful” to suggest he was giving instructions to Bushra Bibi.
Khan also expressed fears about the potential consequences of Justice Qazi Faez Isa’s departure from the Supreme Court, fearing that it could expose the alleged electoral fraud committed against him.
Khan accused former Army Chief General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa of “stabbing him in the back” by striking a deal with Nawaz Sharif and removing Hameed from his position.
When questioned about his previous defense of Hameed and his current concerns about him becoming a witness, Khan stated that he is not worried about Hameed’s testimony. He defended Hameed’s three-year tenure negotiating with the Taliban, arguing that he shouldn’t have been removed. He also revealed that he had personally pleaded with Bajwa not to remove Hameed.
Responding to a question about the potential impact of his trial in a military court on his party, Khan dismissed concerns about internal divisions within the PTI, claiming that the party is growing stronger despite the challenges.
When questioned about his leadership during his tenure as Prime Minister, Khan acknowledged that he had not been able to find suitable individuals for key positions, including the Army Chief, DG ISI, and even office staff. He attributed this to General Bajwa’s betrayal, claiming that despite his support for Bajwa, he was ultimately backstabbed.
Khan’s media interaction was interrupted several times by noise coming from the family area of the prison. The noise prompted Khan to pause his conversation with the journalists on three separate occasions. Eventually, the noise became so disruptive that Khan was forced to cut his interview short and leave the family area.
