Khan, who is being held in Adiala jail, Rawalpindi, is banned from meeting journalists but the Guardian was able to submit questions through his legal team.
In his responses, Khan said he had had "no personal engagement with the military" since he was arrested and imprisoned in August last year. However, he said he would not rule out a deal with Pakistan's powerful military establishment despite previously accusing them of bringing down his government.
Khan said: "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." He added that he would "rather live the rest of my life in prison than compromise on my principles".
It is widely acknowledged that Khan, a former superstar cricketer, was helped into power in 2018 by the military, long seen as the kingmakers of Pakistani politics and whose interference has often been an obstacle on the path to democracy.
This story is from the November 16, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
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This story is from the November 16, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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