Pakistan Feb election was stolen from his party, ex-PM Khan says

[May 30, 2024]  ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Thursday the February national election was stolen from his party, terming it the "biggest robbery on public mandate."    

Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan pauses as he speaks with Reuters during an interview, in Lahore, Pakistan March 17, 2023. REUTERS/Akhtar Soomro/File Photo

There were "gross human rights" violations against him and his party was being "victimized", said Khan, who spoke in the Supreme Court via video link from jail, adding he was in solitary confinement in Adyala jail in the garrison city of Rawalpindi.

Candidates backed by Khan's party won the most seats in the February's election but fell short of a majority, and his opponent Shehbaz Sharif was able to form a government with the help of allied parties.

Khan was allowed by the top court to appear and plead petitions he had filed against amendments in the country's anti-graft laws.

He has been speaking to a select group of reporters who are allowed to cover his trials that are being conducted inside the jail. These proceedings are not open to the public.

(Reporting by Islamabad bureau; Writing by Tanvi Mehta; Editing by YP Rajesh and Bernadette Baum)

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