Former prime minister Imran Khan has decided to offer a conditional apology for May events—the day when violent protests broke out following his arrest from the Islamabad High Court premises in a graft case.

“We are the victims of May 9 as more than 10,000 workers of our party were arrested and we were not allowed to contest elections,” he told journalists in an informal conversation at the Adiala Jail on Wednesday.

“We want justice. If I was afraid of May 9 events then I wouldn’t have called for a judicial commission to probe the riots.”

In May, the military’s spokesperson said that any dialogue with the PTI could happen only if it “earnestly apologises publicly in front of the nation”, promises to adopt “constructive politics” and forgoes “politics of anarchy”. This had come after the PTI’s demand for talks with the establishment.

Inter-Services Public Relations Director General Major General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry was also asked a similar question in a press conference earlier this week. He reiterated the military’s previously stated position on the May 9 riots, saying there has been no change and there would be no change in the stance.

“If any of my party workers was found to be involved in the May 9 riots, I will expel them from the party and I will offer an apology if our crime was proven through CCTV footage,” Khan said and reiterated that his party would not talk to the incumbent government.

“The army is a national institution and its security is our responsibility,” the PTI chief said.

Khan claimed that the ISPR should examine its actions as the people have turned against the institution. “The people are on one side and they are on the other,” he said, referring to the government and the military.

The Swabi rally, according to Khan, has proven that the people know what they want. He said that if the army does not want to talk, “we will not talk either.” Khan added that the “one who should apologise is the one who made a mistake, not his party.”

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While addressing the issue of protests, he said that the Constitution allowed for peaceful demonstrations in front of Cantonment Boards and general headquarters. He pointed to the cases of former prime ministers Nawaz Sharif and Asif Zardari, who were granted NROs and had their multi-billion-rupee cases “forgiven,” while his party, which won 20 seats, was “imposed” on the people through a “rigged” election.

Khan also claimed that Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi had Rs500 million worth of property outside Pakistan.

Moreover, he did not respond to a question related to party lawmaker Sher Afzal Marwat.