Supporting Gen a mistake: Imran

‘‘Let me clearly state that I made a big mistake of my life by supporting the military establishment in the hope of dawn of a new era in the country and I do repent over it because I was used by them,’’ Khan said in an interview to The News.

A strong critic of former Prime Ministers, Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif, Khan said he supported Musharraf with a hope that the general was serious about bringing political, social and economic reforms to uplift the lot of the people.

Khan said when he criticised Musharraf’s referendum last year, he was threatened and told that his Pakistan Tehreek Insaf would not manage to get a single seat.

He said Mushrraf raised some hope in people’s mind when he overthrew the ‘‘corrupt’’ Nawaz Sharif government but had now made ‘‘ugly compromises’’ that would ruin Pakistan in the coming days.

The former cricketer said in the name of pragmatism, Musharraf has released all the outlaws form jails and made some of them cabinet ministers.

‘‘The only difference between the jailed criminals and sitting ministers facing charges was that the jailed ones had no vote bank, otherwise they could also secure their release,’’ he said.

Criticising the role played by the secret agencies in Pakistan, he said they were ‘‘busy in serving their own selfish interests in the name of great supreme national interest. They have a game plan which is against the interest of the country.’’