Imran Khan should be released before potential Trump call: Mushahid

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) senior leader and former senator, Mushahid Hussain Syed, has called for the release of all political prisoners, including former prime minister Imran Khan, preemptively to any call from the US, particularly in light of Donald Trump’s possible re-election in the upcoming November general election.

In a recent interview with Urdu News, Mushahid Hussain highlighted the post-election scenario in Pakistan where everyone including the state apparatus operates on Form 47, contrasting with the public mandate represented by Form 45, which currently centers around the incarcerated Imran Khan, identified as “prisoner 804.”

He reflected on the PML-N’s significant defeat in Punjab, suggesting that the loss to lesser-known entities and individuals signals a need to discern the prevailing political direction.

Mushahid Hussain emphasized the necessity of honoring the people’s mandate and upholding constitutional values to avoid historical mistakes.

He remarked that despite the readiness of high-ranking officials to pursue trade with India and engage in dialogue with Narendra Modi, as well as negotiate with the proscribed Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan in Kabul, there should be no reluctance in engaging with their own citizens, particularly given the mandate they have been entrusted with.

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He proposed the proactive release of political detainees, including Imran Khan, to forestall any diplomatic pressures following the US elections on November 5, hinting at Trump’s known rapport with Khan. When queried about leaving PML-N, he stated that party affiliations are secondary for him over Pakistan’s sovereignty, democratic integrity, and stability.

Addressing the political dynamics, he called for a collective effort from all parties to provide a ‘healing touch.’

When queried about advising Nawaz Sharif, he responded that he had already provided his perspective. Recalling the time when many anticipated Nawaz Sharif’s fourth term as prime minister, he recalled his earlier stance that such an outcome was unlikely.

“I advised him that if he were to re-enter the political arena, the presidency might be a viable option, as the premiership seemed improbable,” he remarked, referring to Nawaz Sharif. “Initially met with resistance within the party, my foresight eventually proved accurate,” he said.

He lamented that Form 45 and Form 47 have become a joke, highlighting accusations by former caretaker prime minister Anwarul Haq Kakar directed at the PML-N. “He (Kakar) warned them to remain silent, lest he revealed their origins as products of Form 47,” he remarked.

He said, “This implies that your mandate is fake. If our constituents are aware, why should outsiders remain oblivious? Without dignity, what else remains?”

He concluded with a reminder of the transient nature of power, suggesting that those who ascend through certain means can also be deposed similarly.