LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan said Saturday that the countrywide riots that erupted following his arrest on May 9, in which supporters attacked military installations including the Lahore Corps Commander House and General Headquarters (GHQ) entrance, were “orchestrated under a well-thought-out conspiracy” to destroy the PTI.

Khan claimed that the ruling coalition knew it could not win the general elections, which was why it “conspired” against the former ruling party. Speaking about the days-long violence, the former prime minister questioned why the Radio Pakistan office in Peshawar was burnt down when the PTI’s protest was being held in a different area.

“Who was the person who incited people to vandalise the Lahore Corps Commander House? He disappeared afterwards,” he added.

Imran Khan further said that he was ready for a “minus-Imran” formula if it benefitted the country or saved it from destruction.

“Minus Imran, but tell [me] how this will benefit the country,” he said in an address to supporters as the crackdown on the party and criticism over the recent riots continued.

Khan alleged that the Pakistan Democratic Movement-led government wanted to hold the general elections only after PTI had been destroyed.

Referring to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s earlier statement that elections would be held in October, Khan asked: “Will our economy get better and inflation disappear in October? What is the benefit of holding elections in October?”

Criticising the government, the former premier claimed the government was destroying the entire country in order to destroy one political party. “They have crushed the institutions. They are not obeying court orders. The police are entering homes.”