After an Islamabad court set Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan free, he slammed the country’s powerful army in his first address, saying it should be ashamed of jumping into politics and could form its own political party.

Imran Khan’s strong rejoinder to Pak’s army

Addressing the nation from his Lahore residence, the ex-PM took strong exception to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) allegations against him and said the spokesperson of the army’s military wing was not even born when he represented Pakistan in the world.

In an hour-long maiden speech after getting dismissed from the 145-cases by the HC, the PTI Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf) Chief said, “I kept Pakistan’s flag high the world over. Never has ISPR made such a statement. You should be ashamed of yourself. You have jumped into politics. Why don’t you make a political party.”

Khan slams DG ISPR

His remarks came in response to ISPR Director-General Major General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry’s statement in which he called Khan a “hypocrite.”

Stating a harsh and strong rejoinder, Khan said, “Listen to me Mr DG ISPR …you were not even born when I was representing my country in the world and earning a good name for it. You need to be ashamed of yourself for calling me a hypocrite and anti-Army.”

A triumphant Khan returned to his Zaman Park home in Lahore on Saturday after having locked himself in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) premises for hours for fear of re-arrest despite being granted bail on Friday.

Before leaving for Lahore, the 70-year-old leader hit out at the “imported government for kidnapping” him despite the IHC granting him bail in all cases.

The PTI chief also tore into Pakistan’s Army chief General Asim Munir and blamed him for his “abduction” after a court set him free.

Major relief for Imran Khan

In a major relief to Khan, the Islamabad High Court on Friday granted him protective bail for two weeks in a corruption case and barred the authorities from arresting the former Pakistan prime minister in any case registered anywhere in the country until Monday.

During Khan’s address, video clips were shown of how army trucks dropped ‘unidentified’ plainclothesmen, who joined PTI protesters and provoked them to unleash violence and ransack public property.

Imran Khan has distanced himself from violent protests that erupted in the wake of his arrest on Tuesday from IHC premises by Pakistan Rangers, asserting that “violence and vandalism is not my philosophy.”

Violence erupted amid Khan’s arrest

Khan’s arrest triggered unrest in Pakistan that continued till Friday and led to several deaths and dozens of military and state installations being destroyed by the protesters.

For the first time in Pakistan’s history, the protesters stormed the army headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi and also torched a corps commander’s house in Lahore.

Police put the death toll in violent clashes to 10 while Khan’s party claims 40 of its workers lost their lives in the firing by security personnel.

Police have put entire leadership of PTI in jails

“They have put the entire leadership of PTI in jails and arrested over 3,500 workers and instituted more cases against me after the attack on the state buildings by unknown persons,” the PTI chief said.

“The government parties do not want the elections because they know they will be completely wiped out. That is why they planned this conspiracy (attack on military installations) and ran away from elections,” he said.

“Such actions have dire consequences. Although you (the Army) will not listen to me, I advise you to think big. You should see where the country is heading by such actions,” he said.

Also Read: Won’t Tolerate Any Further Attacks On Key Installations: Pak Army Chief

Demands probe into protests

Moreover, Ex-PM has also demanded an investigation into the protests and vandalism following his arrest by an independent panel to be constituted by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial.

“I know, who wants to create anarchy in the country and take benefit of the tense situation,” he was quoted as saying by the Dawn newspaper.

He said the judiciary was the only hope for Pakistan.

Further, he said there has been unprecedented media control by the ‘handlers’ who had also imposed a ban on social media to curb free speech.

He appealed to the journalists to listen to their conscience and not fear the military establishment.

(With Input Feeds)