‘I’m no Nawaz Sharif’, says Imran Khan; vows not to strike ‘deal’ with military to come out of jail

Khan’s comments come amid speculation about ongoing talks between his Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) party and the military-backed Shehbaz Sharif government, which could potentially lead to his release. Shehbaz Sharif is the younger brother of Nawaz Sharif.

Khan also criticised the treatment of PTI members in custody, accusing authorities of subjecting political prisoners to “inhumane” conditions and torture. He vowed to take the matter to international forums, saying, “Political prisoners in Pakistan are being treated inhumanely. Our workers in military custody have been subjected to severe mental and physical torture… We demand that human rights organisations take action against these violations.”

Khan urged overseas Pakistanis and global human rights bodies to intervene and ensure justice for PTI members. He accused the government of “violating the entire system” in its efforts to suppress his party.

Addressing Pakistan’s economic challenges, Khan said, “The country’s economy is at its worst. Foreign investment is at a historic low… Brilliant minds and investments are rapidly leaving the country because no one trusts the nation’s stability anymore.” He linked the country’s economic troubles to a lack of rule of law, asserting, “No economic stability can ever be achieved in a country where rule of law does not exist.”

Khan, who has been imprisoned since August 2023 on multiple charges, called for a government with public confidence to restore the country’s stability and resolve its economic crisis.

(With Inputs from PTI)