ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and former prime minister Imran Khan on Tuesday that ex-foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi found out about the diplomatic cypher by “chance”, adding that it was intended for former army chief General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa.
Talking to media in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail, he claimed that all efforts were made to suppress the cy-pher issue as it would have exposed US diplomat Donald Lu.
Imran said that Asad Majeed, the Pakistani ambassador, recommended demarche in an official meet-ing on Donald Lu’s talk but now it is being said that there was no conspiracy.
“If there was nothing in the cypher then why demarche was issued [to the United States]. Does any-one ever demarches the US,” he questioned.
Imran said that no country was issued a demarche during PTI’s three-and-a-half-year tenure. Howev-er, he added, PTI members started defecting after the cypher issue.
He said that Raja Riaz and other members had started visiting the US embassy after the issue emerged, claiming that this development was also confirmed in an Intelligence Bureau (IB) report.
“Bajwa hired Husain Haqqani in October 2021 without our knowledge, paid him $35,000, and had Haqqani tweet that Imran is anti-America while Bajwa is pro-America.”
Imran said that the case against PML-N supreme leader Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz was different, as both were disqualified, claiming that PML-N President Shehbaz had complete sup-port from Bajwa.
“No one is attending their rallies; there is fear they might run away from the elections again, as they did earlier. Elections must be held on February 8, no matter what,” he added.
The former prime minister said that senior politician Javed Hashmi has been in prison, and he under-stands that the establishment is working against him.
Regarding Chaudhry Nisar Ahmad Khan, PTI founder stated, “He is a 50-year-old friend who was invit-ed to join PTI in April 2018, but Chaudhry Nisar is still Chaudhry Nisar.”
“If Chaudhry Nisar talks about joining us, Vigo Dala will reach his house to pick him up.”
He further said that the ongoing struggle was part of a “freedom movement,” declaring his time in jail as a form of worship within this movement.
Imran urged his party candidates to kick off a peaceful election campaign commencing next Sunday, warning of potential ticket changes for candidates failing to actively participate.
He also levelled accusations against authorities, alleging impediments to PTI’s election campaign ef-forts. –Agencies
