Imran Khan says ready for 2014 dharna inquiry

ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan has said that he was ready for an inquiry into the 2014 dharna, asserting that he would welcome the formation of an inquiry committee and dismissed all allegations related to the sit-in as baseless.

He made these remarks during a media interaction at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, where he also claimed that the 2013 elections were marred by rigging orchestrated by returning officers (ROs).

On the military’s role in politics, Khan reiterated PTI’s stance, emphasizing that the armed forces should not be dragged into politics. He said that half of his family members are in the military and half in the bureaucracy, urging against their politicisation.

Additionally, Khan revealed that he had presented the events of May 9 before the Supreme Court, condemning the violence and asserting his long-standing commitment to peaceful political engagement. He also said that presidential, prime minister, chief minister of Punjab, and members of the Senate, elections are fraud.

Earlier, Director-General of Inter-Services Public Relations Maj-Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, called for a judicial commission to investigate the violent incidents of May 9, 2023, and the PTI’s dharna in Islamabad.

He had stressed the need for accountability and adherence to the law, citing clear evidence of political leaders inciting violence during the protest.

He underscored the importance of a thorough investigation into the objectives behind the 2014 dharna, attacks on key institutions, and subsequent civil disobedience campaigns. Maj-Gen Chaudhry emphasized the need for prompt justice, especially for those responsible for the violence.