PESHAWAR: Pervez Khattak, a former confidant of PTI chief Imran Khan, has said the latter had no strategy to address the challenges confronting the nation when he was in power.

Mr Khattak, who broke away from the party and formed his own Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf- Parliam­entarian (PTI-P) earlier this year, said the ex-prime minister “used to tell us to lie to such an extent so that it appears to be the truth.”

Speaking to the reporters in Peshawar on Saturday, Mr Khattak said the PTI chief was facing several cases and could be prosecuted for the riots on May 9. “Whatever happened on May 9 was not right,” he added.The party was already “drowned” in legal cases but after May 9, more cases were filed for violence against the army, said Mr Khattak.

Flanked by former chief minister Mahmood Khan, Mr Khattak added that Mr Khan was also facing a case for allegedly not declaring a wristwatch he bought from Toshakhana.

Fears ex-PM’s prosecution in May 9 cases; takes credit for bringing leaders to PTI’s fold in 2018

Mishandling of the official cipher was another serious case against Imran Khan, he said.

He also referred to the much-contested approval granted by the then federal cabinet to a settlement agreement between the UK’s National Crime Agency and a property tycoon in December 2019.

Mr Khattak, who was then part of the federal cabinet, said, “We were shown a sealed envelope in the cabinet meeting and the signature was taken from all members.”

He said the cabinet members later came to know that 190 million pounds were brought to Pakistan before the meeting signed off on the agreement.

When the matter was brought to the cabinet, the members were told the money was being repatriated after an agreement between real estate tycoon Malik Riaz and PML (N) supremo Nawaz Sharif, Mr Khattak claimed.

He also took credit for bringing KP’s political leaders into PTI’s fold before the 2018 general elections. “Sixty per cent of MNAs and MPAs had joined PTI on my request.”

Criticising his former leader, Mr Khattak alleged that in three-and-a-half-year of government, Mr Khan did not replicate reforms in Punjab which were carried out in KP.

He said his party, the PTI-P, will soon unveil its manifesto which was in the final stages of formation. “The manifesto would be concise and implementable.”

The ex-KP chief minister blamed political parties for “giving space to the army to intervene in politics”.

He also appreciated former army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa, whom he claimed “supported us [PTI] a great deal”.

“But in the end, he too gave up and said he cannot do more,” Mr Khattak said, adding he had a good relationship with the former COAS when he was the defence minister.

He alleged the ex-prime minister provided the former ISI chief Faiz Hameed and his principal secretary Azam Khan “an opportunity to interfere in the government”.

Mr Khattak alleged that Mr Khan wanted a presidential system in the country and against the 18th constitutional amendment and the autonomy of the provinces.He also referred to his tenure as the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister from 2013 to 2018 when he “initiated many reforms and executed development schemes”.

These projects were carried forward by Mahmood Khan, who became the chief minister following the elections in 2018, Mr Khattak said, adding these schemes were “in the larger interests of the masses”.

He added projects like the Billion Tree Tsunami afforestation programme were completed in his tenure despite criticism. “Now the project is being acknowledged by the world.”

On a question about the next general elections, he expressed hope polls would be held in February next year.

Talking about the interim set-up in KP, he said caretaker Chief Minister Muhammad Azam Khan was elected in haste.

However, he feared the exercise could be delayed “if someone takes the matter to courts”.

“I have told the caretaker chief minister not to act as chief secretary but to become the chief minister.”Commenting on the current economic situation in the country, he said that there was a dire need to ensure the documentation of the economy.

Published in Dawn, August 27th, 2023