Just days before Pakistan's election commission issued a non-bailable warrant for his arrest, Khan proclaimed, "I have no doubt that it's a question of time, whether it's on Monday or some other day next week. I'm convinced they're going to put me in jail because every day I have more cases against me." He expressed his belief that he has broken a world record with 180 cases against him, and he lamented that Pakistan is currently facing the "law of the jungle."
Khan, a former international cricket player, won a seat in Pakistan's parliament in 2002 and became prime minister in 2018. However, he soon found himself facing numerous charges, primarily related to corruption and terrorism. Last year, Pakistan passed its first and only no-confidence vote against a sitting prime minister to remove Khan from power. This move sparked clashes between police and Khan's supporters, who strongly opposed his removal.
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Earlier this year, government officials alleged that Khan and his wife had received bribes in the form of land worth millions of dollars, as well as luxury items such as an antique watch, a gold pen, a ring, and cufflinks. These items were allegedly sold for personal profit. Khan was arrested and held at a police facility in Islamabad, where his supporters gathered in protest. The tensions escalated when his supporters attacked military assets in protest over his arrest, vandalizing an air base, several garrisons, and the house of a general. Khan was later released on bail following a ruling from the country's supreme court.
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This week, police issued a non-bailable arrest warrant for Khan in relation to a contempt case. The case revolves around Khan's use of "intemperate" language against the election commission and the chief election commissioner. Khan, who survived an assassination attempt in late 2022, claimed that his current crisis stems from a disagreement with his foreign policy. He alleged that either the U.S. government or Pakistan's own military were unhappy with how he chose to align Pakistan in the international community.
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July 12, 2023
Khan accused the former army chief, Qamar Javed Bajwa, of engineering his downfall. He claimed that Bajwa used intelligence agencies to divide Khan's party and keep them distant from his allies. Khan also criticized the disproportionate power wielded by the military in Pakistan. While he insisted that he received no help from the military when he ran for office, he acknowledged that the army did not oppose him. Additionally, Khan alleged that former Pakistani ambassador Husain Haqqani lobbied the U.S. government to help remove him from power because he was perceived as "anti-American."
Khan further claimed that Haqqani had a lobbyist who was paid by the Pakistani government without his knowledge. This lobbyist allegedly worked to portray Khan as anti-American. Khan asserted that this interference from the U.S. occurred on March 6, 2022, and that he read a cipher suggesting that if he remained in power, Pakistan would face consequences. The vote of no confidence against him took place the next day. However, Khan now believes that his downfall was engineered by the army chief rather than the U.S.
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The U.S. State Department denied these allegations, stating that there is no truth to them. The department emphasized its support for the peaceful upholding of democratic, constitutional, and legal principles. It also reiterated the United States' commitment to a prosperous and democratic Pakistan, adding that it does not have a position on one political candidate or party versus another.
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Khan defended his pursuit of a nonaligned foreign policy with India and trade with China and Russia, despite international tensions and condemnation of Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. He explained that his primary concern was to help the people of Pakistan escape poverty. Khan highlighted Pakistan's role in the Doha talks, which aimed to broker a deal with the Taliban before their takeover of the Afghanistan government and military following the U.S. withdrawal.
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Khan expressed his confusion over the U.S.'s decision to go to Afghanistan, questioning the aims of the venture. He believed that if the target was Osama bin Laden, the U.S. should have left after his death. Khan also questioned whether the U.S. intended to install democracy in Afghanistan, noting that it was unlikely to be achieved through military force. Despite the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan, Khan did not blame President Joe Biden for the situation, stating that he didn't think Biden had many options left.
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