Former Prime Minister Imran Khan, currently serving a prison term, on Sunday reiterated his call for overseas Pakistanis to boycott by sending remittances, venting political tensions as party, Pakistan Tehreek-E -Insaf (PTI), faces the government.
“Once again, I urge overseas Pakistanis to continue their boycott of foreign currency remittances,” Khan said in an article on X. “Sending money to this government strengthens the very hands that tighten the noose around your neck.”
The call comes as talks between the government and the PTI, initiated last month, collapsed this week. The impasse followed the PTI’s refusal to participate without judicial commissions to probe the protests on May 9, 2023 and November 26, 2024.
Khan also called for nationwide protests on February 8, marking the contentious elections in 2024 as “Black Day.” PTI alleges election rigging by the Guardian government and the Election Commission of Pakistan. Both entities deny the claims.
“Prepare to observe a nationwide ‘Black Day,’” read another post from Khan’s account. “People from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and North Punjab are expected to gather in Swabi for protests, while others are expected to hold protests in their respective towns.”
The May 2023 protests reportedly saw Khan supporters vandalize military installations. On November 26, 2024, protesters demanded Khan’s release, with the government claiming four soldiers had been killed in the protests. The PTI insists that its supporters have also faced losses.
Information Minister Ataullah Tarar criticized PTI for “unilaterally” abandoning negotiations. “They made the decision in haste,” he said. The government’s negotiating committee is expected to formally respond to the PTI’s demands on January 28.
Khan was ousted in 2022 following what would be a fallout with the country’s top generals. The army denies interference in politics. Since August 2023, Khan has been imprisoned on various charges, which he believes is politically motivated to exclude him from power.
Although he has been acquitted or sentenced in most cases, last week he was sentenced to 14 years in prison for a land corruption case. All proceedings against him were conducted in prison, citing security concerns.
Remittances from foreign workers, especially from countries like Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, the United States and the United Kingdom, remain crucial for Pakistan’s cash-strapped economy. Analysts warn that any significant impact on fund flows could worsen the country’s fragile financial situation.