[GEO.TV] The incarcerated Pakistain Tehrik-e-Insaf
...a political party in Pakistan. PTI was founded by former Pakistani cricket captain and philanthropist Imran Khan. The party's slogan is
Justice, Humanity and Self Esteem, each of which is open to widely divergent interpretations....
(PTI) founder, Imran Khan
...aka The Great Khan, who who convinced himself that playing cricket qualified him to lead a nuclear-armed nation with severe personality disorders...
, who blames the military for his ouster and 12-month-old imprisonment on what he calls trumped-up charges, has said it would be "foolish" not to have "excellent" relations with the army.
Ahead of Monday's anniversary of his jailing on dozens of charges ranging from corruption to leaking state secrets, Khan also stated in a written responses to Rooters questions that he held no grudges against the United States, whom he has also blamed for his 2022 ouster from office.
"Given Pakistain'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."
On Wednesday, 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.
Army and government did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Khan's remarks to Rooters. They have both repeatedly denied his assertions.
The United States denies any role in his ouster.
In his replies, the 71-year-old former cricket star did not specify what he wanted to discuss with the military.