Pakistan military has no intentions of working out a deal with imprisoned former PM Imran Khan

Pakistan's military does not have any intentions of negotiating or cutting a deal with imprisoned former prime minister Imran Khan, senior military sources told the Guardian.

This comes after Khan said that he would be willing to engage with the army leadership from his prison cell.

Imran Khan is currently serving his prison sentence in Adiala Jail and is banned from meeting journalists. However, the Guardian submitted their questions through their legal team.

Khan responded and said that he has had "no personal engagement with the military" since he was arrested and imprisoned in August last year.

However, Khan added that he would not rule out doing a deal with Pakistan's military establishment, despite previously accusing them of bringing down his government and being behind his incarceration.

“With regards to doing a deal with the military, any engagement would be based on principles and in the interest of the people, not personal gain or compromises that undermine Pakistan’s democratic values,” former Pakistan PM told the Guardian.

He added that he would “rather live the rest of my life in prison than compromise on my principles.”

Separately, the senior military leadership said that for the past months now, Khan has been pressuring them for discussions with the military and had offered "unconditional" talks as he sought a teal to ensure his release.

However, the military leadership are said to be resolute in refusing to enter into any negotiations with Imran Khan.

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“Khan has to face the court cases against him, and can’t expect any deals from the military. Khan wants everyone to follow the rule of law, but he does not want this rule of law for himself,” one military source told the British newspaper.

Notably, Imran Khan's government fell when his relationship with the army's leadership ruined in 2022. He then began to vocally criticise the military establishment and accused them of a role in an assassination attempt on his life and for orchestrating his arrest.

He is currently facing hundreds of cases he claims are trumped by the military and his political opponents who have formed the current coalition government.

Earlier in July, Khan publicly offered to hold "conditional" talks with the Pakistan military, if they agreed to hold "clean and transparent" elections.

(With inputs from agencies)