Imran Khan, Pakistan's ousted prime minister, is at the center of political turmoil. From a celebrated cricket player to a prime minister and now an opposition leader, he faces possible jail time, which he believes is to prevent him from contesting elections. Despite legal challenges and an assassination attempt, Khan remains determined to fight for his country's true freedom and justice. He reflects on his past life with indifference, focusing instead on Pakistan's future. Khan criticizes the current government for delaying elections and accuses them of corruption. He admits his failure to eradicate corruption due to lack of control over the National Accountability Bureau, which is under the army's influence. Khan also discusses his stance on international issues, including his neutral approach to the Taliban and Russia-Ukraine conflict, emphasizing Pakistan's need to avoid other nations' conflicts after suffering from its involvement in the U.S. war on terror.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. Imran Khan was a famous cricketer before entering politics.
2. He was the Prime Minister of Pakistan from 2018.
3. Khan was shot three times in the leg during a rally a few months prior to the interview.
4. He was expecting an attempt on his life and had predicted it two months earlier.
5. Khan is facing serious legal charges, including corruption cases, which could lead to a prison sentence.
6. He denies the corruption allegations and claims they are a ploy to prevent him from running in the next elections.
7. Khan was a national hero as a cricketer and played 21 years of international cricket.
8. He never thought he would become Prime Minister, but entered politics as a challenge.
9. Khan's government was ousted, and he is now an opposition leader fighting for survival.
10. He claims the current government is trying to prevent him from contesting elections by filing false cases against him.
11. Khan's party is expected to sweep the elections, according to him.
12. The current government postponed the date for the next elections.
13. Khan blames the military for many of the country's problems, including corruption.
14. He claims the military is above the law in Pakistan.
15. Khan's government had a poor record on corruption, and he acknowledges this.
16. He blames the National Accountability Bureau, which was under the Army Chief, for not being able to convict powerful individuals.
17. Khan has been critical of the current government for suppressing free speech and persecuting him.
18. He denies accusations of being a "press freedom predator" and claims his government did not institute any cases against journalists.
19. Khan has been accused of having a softer approach to the Taliban.
20. He believes the international community should engage with the Taliban to promote human rights and stability in Afghanistan.
21. Khan's government had a poor record on female representation, with few women in top positions.
22. He claims he selected his cabinet based on merit, not gender.
23. Khan has been criticized for not speaking out against human rights abuses in China, particularly against the Uyghur Muslim community.
24. He claims he was careful not to criticize China as Prime Minister due to Pakistan's vulnerable economy.
25. Khan visited Russian President Vladimir Putin on the day Russia invaded Ukraine.
26. He claims Putin gave him the Russian point of view on the conflict, but he remained neutral.
27. Khan believes Pakistan should stay out of other countries' conflicts, citing the country's experience in the US war on terror.