ISLAMABAD, May 30: Pakistans jailed former prime minister Imran Khan said on Thursday Februarys national election was stolen from his party, describing it as the "biggest robbery of a public mandate".
Khan, speaking in the Supreme Court via video link from Adyala jail in the garrison city of Rawalpindi, said he was being held in solitary confinement.
His remarks were the first to be heard in open court since he was jailed in August.
"My party is being victimised. There have been gross human rights violations," Khan said. "The February 8 election was the biggest robbery of a public mandate."
The Election Commission has denied the election was rigged. Khan, a 71-year-old cricketer-turned-politician, was jailed on corruption charges. He is also fighting dozens of other cases.
He and his Pakistan Tehree-e-Insaf Party (PTI) say the charges were politically motivated to thwart his return to power.
Candidates backed by Khan won the most seats in Februarys election but fell short of a majority required to form a government.
His opponent Shehbaz Sharif became prime minister in a coalition government with several other parties. —REUTERS
