Imran Khan Rejects Deal Offers, Vows to Stay in Jail for Freedom

ISLAMABAD:Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and former Prime Minister Imran Khan has stated that he received a message offering him a deal, but he made it clear that he would remain in jail and not accept any deals.

In a statement posted on social media platform *X*, Khan expressed that 2025 would be the year of “true freedom” for Pakistan, emphasizing that 2024 would be a challenging year for the country. He remarked, “Freedom is always hard-earned.”

Imran Khan revealed that he was offered a deal where his party would be provided with “political space,” but in return, he would be placed under house arrest at his Bani Gala residence. He rejected the offer, stating, “I told them that first, release all political prisoners. I will stay in jail, but I will not accept any deal. I will not go under house arrest or be transferred to any jail in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.”

Khan reassured his supporters, saying, “Do not fear; your captain is steadfast.” He further called on overseas Pakistanis to join the campaign to boycott remittances, stating that this was a protest for the restoration of true freedom and democracy. He added that if positive results came from negotiations, the remittance boycott campaign would be halted.

The former Prime Minister criticized the government’s failure to establish the rule of law, which he claimed led to a lack of investment and the closure of factories. He also stated that if the law had been upheld, Pakistan’s economy would have recovered.

On the issue of military courts, Imran Khan claimed that selective trials were held in military courts concerning the events of May 9. He argued that if trials had been conducted in open courts, evidence such as video footage from May 9 would have been required, adding that video footage from the March 18, 2023, attack on him at the Judicial Complex in Islamabad was deliberately destroyed.

Khan emphasized that transparent trials are a fundamental constitutional right of citizens. He said that conducting cases in military courts violated the citizens’ basic rights and harmed Pakistan’s international standing. He also criticized the lack of accountability in Pakistan’s judiciary and argued that courts like the constitutional court were meant to hold those in power accountable.

The PTI founder also took aim at the intelligence agencies, saying their primary duty was to protect the borders and counter terrorism. He questioned why these agencies were involved in political engineering and attempting to break PTI, instead of focusing on their core responsibilities.

Regarding foreign policy, Imran Khan criticized the government’s handling of Afghanistan, stating that the claimed strategy of sending refugees back to Afghanistan had only fueled more hatred and worsened the situation. He added that when Bilawal Bhutto Zardari became Foreign Minister, he never visited Afghanistan, which should have been a priority.

Khan also mentioned his concerns about the decisions made by General Qamar Javed Bajwa, claiming that Bajwa’s priorities were not aligned with Pakistan’s interests. According to Khan, these decisions, particularly related to the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan, contributed to increasing terrorism in the region.

**PTI Negotiation Committee Meets Imran Khan in Jail**

Meanwhile, a PTI delegation, led by Opposition Leader Omar Ayub, met with Imran Khan at Adiala Jail. The committee briefed the former Prime Minister about the ongoing talks with the government, and Khan provided guidance on the way forward.

The meeting lasted for about two and a half hours and included discussions on the negotiations with the government. The committee members, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, Sahibzada Hamid, Allama Nasir Abbas, Salman Akram Raja, and Asad Qaiser, participated in the meeting.

This comes after the first round of talks between the PTI and government committees, which took place at the Speaker’s House the previous day. Both sides agreed to continue negotiations, and the Prime Minister expressed hope for positive progress for the greater good of the country.