Information Minister Maryam Aurangzeb stated during a press conference in Islamabad that the arrest of Imran Khan is unrelated to the election and was not initiated by the government.
Instead, Imran Khan was arrested following the completion of a trial where he was sentenced by the trial court. The investigation into the crimes of TI Chairman had been ongoing for a year, with Imran Khan largely avoiding responding to the accusations and attacking institutions when questioned.
Maryam Aurangzeb emphasized that Imran Khan had numerous opportunities to present his case during the forty appearances in court, but he only appeared three times and continued to provide misleading information, even in the Tosha Khana theft case. She cited instances where Imran Khan lied about the 190 million case and the Cipher case, as well as not disclosing correct assets in his election returns.
Maryam Aurangzeb further clarified that the arrest of Chairman PTI was not politically motivated and the court’s decision was based on legal requirements. She addressed claims that Imran Khan was hiding his theft, selling gifts, and the reasons behind the May 9 incident.
Regarding comparisons with Nawaz Sharif’s case, Maryam Aurangzeb pointed out that the circumstances were different as Nawaz Sharif, a three-time elected Prime Minister, faced accusations related to Panama, which he contested and provided an account of his family’s financial history.
On the issue of the Council of Common Interests (CCI), she clarified that no final decision had been made yet on the agenda items, urging against speculative reporting about the sensitive forum.
In summary, Maryam Aurangzeb defended the arrest of Imran Khan, stating it was the outcome of a completed trial, not a political move, and addressed various allegations and comparisons made by Imran Khan and others.