Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan voiced concerns on Monday about deteriorating law and order in Balochistan and Punjab, attributing these issues to a particular institution. Speaking to reporters following a hearing at Adiala Jail regarding a £190 million corruption case, Khan stated that his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), would consider national reconciliation only if their grievances were addressed. According to Dawn News, Khan stressed that true reconciliation cannot occur without accountability for what he described as “fraudulent general elections.”
Khan also expressed disappointment over Pakistan’s recent cricket performance, particularly the loss to Bangladesh in the first Test match of a two-match series. He criticized Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, accusing him of incompetence and alleging that Naqvi owns $5 million in Dubai property under his spouse’s name. Khan further linked Naqvi to a wheat scandal and alleged electoral rigging during his tenure as Punjab’s caretaker chief minister.
Khan criticized the current government for its failure to implement necessary reforms, control spending, and increase revenue. He argued that only a government with a genuine mandate could make these critical changes. He added that multinational companies and professionals are leaving Pakistan due to the worsening situation, and that those who criticize the authorities are labeled as “digital terrorists,” according to Dawn News.
Khan denied any contact with the establishment and described the harsh conditions of his custody, including being held in a hot, humid cell, insisting he had not requested special treatment.
During Monday’s hearing, the cross-examination of a prosecution witness, the investigation officer, remained incomplete for the 10th time. Accountability court judge Nasir Javed Rana expressed frustration over the delays, noting that despite deploying over 200 security personnel for each hearing, progress was stalled. The judge warned that the law would proceed if the defense failed to cross-examine the witness by the next hearing, scheduled for September 3.
The hearing was briefly interrupted when Khan’s spouse, Bushra Bibi, complained about rats in her barrack. The judge ordered their removal, and proceedings were adjourned until August 29.
Outside the jail, Khan’s sister, Aleema Khan, criticized the frequent transfers of jail staff, noting that security personnel assigned to her brother had been changed six times. She confirmed that while a planned rally on August 22 was postponed at the government’s request, PTI’s rally on September 8 would proceed as planned.
In related news, PTI filed a petition with the Islamabad High Court (IHC) seeking the recovery of missing party activists. PTI General Secretary Omar Ayub Khan submitted the petition, naming senior officials from the interior and defense ministries, the Federal Investigation Agency, and Islamabad Police as respondents. The petition highlighted that 16 PTI workers were detained in a recent crackdown, with some still missing, and urged the court to declare these enforced disappearances unconstitutional and to investigate any government involvement in these incidents.
