Imran Khan vows to "mobilize youth" against Musharraf

Nov 6, 2007, 17:28 GMT

London - Jemima Khan, the former wife of Pakistan cricketer Imran Khan, Tuesday released a message in London received from him, which said he was in hiding preparing to 'mobilize the youth' against President Pervez Musharraf.

Jemima, who has two sons with Khan, said her ex-husband was first placed under house arrest in Lahore on Saturday, where 'police ransacked his house and roughed up his family.'

Khan, leader of the Movement for Justice, had managed to escape just before police returned to 'cart him off to Kot Lakpat jail,' said the statement.

'He's now in hiding along with most of his party and thousands of others who fear reprisals for criticizing the government.'

The statement continued with a message sent by Imran Khan via e-mail, in which he said: 'They are using sheer force against lawyers, human rights organizations, political activists and all genuine opposition leaders are in jail.'

Members of his family had been ill-treated and his home ransacked.

'I believe that the Americans are complicit, or at the very least knew about this, before it took place,' said Khan's statement.

'They are backing Musharraf as he could never get his way if they were serious about stopping him. Their recent statements represent just a slap on the wrist. The reason he is still getting support from the army is because of US backing,' it added.

Khan said he believed Benazir Bhutto, the former prime minister, was 'on board' with Musharraf, as her party had 'not been touched' by the authorities.

'Our aim is to continue the struggle and mobilise the youth of the country from underground. This move of Musharraf's will ignite militancy and extremism. When you suppress democratic forces then the only way to resist is through militancy.'