In an interview broadcast by a London-based TV channel on Tuesday, former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who has been incarcerated for over a year on various charges, voiced concerns about the state of Pakistan’s democracy.
He urged the UK Prime Minister to advocate for “freedom and fairness” in Pakistan.
In response to questions from ITV, a prominent British television network, sent to him while in prison last month, Imran Khan was asked whether he hoped UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government would advocate for his release. Khan responded by emphasizing a collective duty to uphold peace and strive for freedom and fairness for all.
He highlighted that the new British administration carries a “tremendous responsibility and high expectations” globally. Khan remarked that the UK’s commitment to these values would significantly influence its international standing.
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Khan, who claims that the February general elections were rigged to undermine the PTI’s mandate, urged Starmer and his cabinet to envision a situation where their “overwhelming victory was stolen.”
He described a scenario in which a party with minimal seats usurped their mandate, stripping away party symbols and imprisoning or torturing leaders until they either switched sides or exited politics.
Khan asserted that the Pakistani people desired change, democracy, and the rule of law, with their votes reflecting a plea for justice, self-determination, and freedom.
Khan described his conditions in Rawalpindi Jail, referring to his confinement in a “seven-by-eight-foot death cell” with constant surveillance and no privacy. He claimed these harsh conditions reflect a lack of basic human rights.
In contrast, the government has denied these allegations, informing the Supreme Court in June that Khan had access to an exercise bike, a separate kitchen, a special menu, a room cooler, a study table, and an LED TV.
