Imran ‘ready to tender conditional apology’ over May 9

PTI founder’s apology linked to alleged involvement of his party protesters that can be ascertained via CCTV footage

Special Correspondent

Rawalpindi: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan on Wednesday announced seeking a conditional apology over the May 9 riots, saying that the CCTV footage of the violent protests should be produced beforehand.

In a statement, the jailed former prime minister said that he would apologise if the PTI activists were found involved in the violent protests that broke out in the country last year following his arrest from the Islamabad High Court (IHC) in a corruption case.

The violent protests saw attacks on public properties including military installations in many parts of the country, prompting the civil and military leadership to try the rioters under the Army Act.

The PTI chief, who has been incarcerated in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail, has time and again distanced his party from the protests, alleging that the riots were pre-planned and staged to launch a crackdown on the opposition party.

“I will sack and myself seek punishment for the PTI members if they were found involved [in the May 9 incidents],” he added.

Apparently referring to his arrest on May 9 last year, the PTI founder lamented that he was “dragged” by Rangers. “There is no respect for a popular person in Pakistan and globally,” he added.

“Don’t you feel obliged to apologise to me?” asked the PTI founder.

The latest statement came as the PTI founder has apparently lowered his political rhetoric lately and offered to hold talks with the military.

Ahead of Monday’s anniversary of his jailing on dozens of charges ranging from corruption to leaking state secrets, Khan told Reuters that it would be “foolish” not to have “excellent” relations with the army.

He also stated in a written response to Reuters questions that he held no grudges against the United States, whom he has also blamed for his 2022 ouster from the PM Office.

“Given Pakistan’s geographical position and the military’s significant role in the private sector, it would be foolish not to foster such a relationship,” Khan wrote in replies relayed by his media and legal team.

“We are proud of our soldiers and armed forces,” he said.

Khan said his criticisms since his ouster had been directed at individuals, not the military as an institution.

“The miscalculations of the military leadership shouldn’t be held against the institution as a whole.”

Last week, Khan offered to hold “conditional negotiations” with the military — if “clean and transparent” elections were held and the “bogus” cases against his supporters were dropped.

“We are open to any dialogue that could help improve the dire situation in Pakistan,” he said, adding that it was useless to open any such talks with the coalition government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, which he says does not enjoy public backing because he claims it won a stolen election in February.

Rather, Khan said, it would be “more productive to engage with those who actually wield power”.

On Monday, Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) Lieutenant General Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry rejected reports of talks with the PTI leadership maintaining that there was no change in the stance of the Pakistan Army on the May 9 violent protests.

“Army’s stance on [May 9] is clear, which was conveyed in the May 7 [2024] press conference. There has been no change in that nor there will be,” he said while briefing the media on the country’s security situation at Rawalpindi’s General Headquarters (GHQ).

Khan’s imprisonment has added to the political volatility in the country, which has experienced a prolonged economic crisis and last month received a bailout from the International Monetary Fund.