Imran ready to sacrifice 1,000 years in jail if necessary to achieve freedom, says his lawyer

Tariq Butt, Correspondent 

Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan has expressed his willingness to endure imprisonment, stating he would stay incarcerated "even for a thousand years" if necessary and stressed the value of sacrifice in achieving freedom.

After meeting Imran Khan in Attock Jail, Umair Niazi, a member of his legal team, reported that the former prime minister was in "good health although he had grown a beard." "Imran Khan has been provided with a mirror and a shaving kit,” the lawyer said.

On Aug.5, the PTI chief was arrested by the Punjab police after a trial court found him guilty on charges of concealing details of gifts he received from the state depository, Toshakhana, while in office, and sentenced him to three years in prison.

His counsels had repeatedly alleged that Imran Khan was being kept in "deplorable conditions” during incarceration.

Umair Niazi asserted that among a team of six, only he was granted permission to meet the PTI chairman. He expressed his intention to file a contempt of court petition against the "jailer's conduct" for denying the legal team access to the former premier, despite possessing court orders.

"I do not care about not being given facilities in jail. It does not matter even if I am kept in jail for 1,000 years, but I am ready for it because one has to make sacrifices for freedom,” Niazi quoted the PTI chief as saying.

The lawyer confirmed that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) conducted an inquiry with Khan in Attock Jail regarding the cipher issue, during which the former premier reiterated his previous stance.

He said Imran Khan also spoke about the "disappearance” of his nephew Barrister Hassaan Niazi.