- Imran Khan laments politically motivated charges against him.
- Claims legal struggles part of effort to suppress democratic dissent.
- Former prime minister criticises military, judiciary in TIME op-ed.
KARACHI: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, who continues to remain behind bars for well over a year amid his existing legal woes, has penned an op-ed pinning his hopes on United States President Donald Trump while decrying alleged authoritarian rule in the country, The News reported.
Writing for TIME magazine from behind bars, Khan has rebuffed the charges against him as politically motivated and argued that his legal battles were part of a larger effort to suppress democratic dissent in Pakistan.
This isn’t the first time the former prime minister has written for a foreign publication while being incarcerated. He previously wrote a column for The Economist back in January 2024 wherein he complained of his party’s deprivation of a level playing field in the February 8 elections.
The opinion piece back then had resulted in uproar from the-then caretaker government which had announced investigation.
In his latest op-ed for the TIME, Khan has emphasised the economic repercussions of the current political climate, warning that Pakistan risks losing its preferential trade status with the European Union — a move that would severely impact its economy, particularly the textile industry.
Criticising the military and the judiciary, the PTI founder called for “constitutional boundaries” to be respected.
Speaking on the now-stalled talks between the PTI and the ruling coalition, the ex-premier underscored that he authorised his party leadership to negotiate with the current government to curb violence and human rights abuses.
However, he adds, these efforts were met with political manipulation.
“I was offered house arrest in exchange for ambiguous ‘political space’ for PTI, but I rejected this outright,” Khan wrote while seemingly confirming previous claims of various deals being offered to him.
At the end of his oped, the former PM takes a rather notable international pivot and congratulates US President Trump on his second inauguration, saying that Trump’s “remarkable political comeback is a testament to the resilience and the will of the people”.
Referring to the current White House incumbent, Khan adds: “As he [President Trump] settles into office again, we look forward to his administration reaffirming its commitment to democratic principles, human rights, and the rule of law — particularly in regions where authoritarianism threatens to undermine these values”.
The former PM’s mentioning of US president is to be interpreted against the backdrop of ongoing efforts aimed at securing his release which has seen US lawmakers — Joe Wilson and August Pfluger being the most recent ones — calling on the White House to play its role in ensuring his freedom.
