PTI Chairman and Former Prime Minister Imran Khan has accused PML-N supreme leader Nawaz Sharif of appointing an Army Chief that he could control.
While addressing a Regime Change seminar at Marriot Hotel in Islamabad, the PTI Chairman recalled Energy Minister Khurram Dastgir’s recent claims on the appointment of a new army chief.
To clarify, Khurram Dastgir, in an interview with a private media channel, claimed that the then Opposition had united against Imran Khan as the latter had ‘fascist plans’ including the mass disqualification of opponents. Khurram Dastgir also made a reference to the appointment of a new army chief as one of Imran Khan’s plans.
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Taking note of the Energy Minister’s revelations, Imran Khan said Khurram Dastgir’s claims should be scrutinized.
“Do they want their own army chief so that he can help them?” Imran Khan asked. The PTI leader then asserted that he never thought about who should be the next army chief.
“I only thought then when the time comes, I will pick choose one based on merit,” he added. Pertinent to mention, Imran Khan has time and again rubbished the claims that he wanted former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) director general Lt. Gen Faiz Hameed as the next army chief.
اللہ کے سامنے حاضر ہو کر میں کہتا ہوں کہ میں نے کبھی یہ نہیں سوچا تھا کہ نومبر میں کس کو آرمی چیف بناؤں گا، عمران خان کو ضرورت نہیں تھی کہ وہ اپنا آرمی چیف لگائے۔ چیئرمین عمران خان
#RegimeChangeInPakistan pic.twitter.com/Ku6uTmrbmc— PTI (@PTIofficial) June 22, 2022
Why is Nawaz Sharif concerned about Army Chief?
The PTI leader then turned his guns on former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and asked why he has a problem with the appointment of the army chief. Imran Khan said Nawaz Sharif has looted money to such an extent that he wants to control the armed forces so that he can escape accountability by appointing his people as head of institutions.
“Nawaz Sharif has always appointed an army chief he liked by violating merit because he needs it,” Imran Khan said.
نواز شریف نے اس قدر چوری کی ہوئی ہے کہ وہ اپنا پیسہ بچانا چاہتا ہے اس لیے وہ اداروں کو کنٹرول کرتا ہے اور آرمی کو بھی کنٹرول کرنا چاہتا ہے تاکہ اسکی چوری بچ سکے۔ چیئرمین عمران خان
#RegimeChangeInPakistan pic.twitter.com/ae9xz5g7vs— PTI (@PTIofficial) June 22, 2022
Pertinent to mention, Chief of Army Staff General Bajwa will retire in November 2022. On the other hand, the Pakistan Army has urged politicians to stop dragging the military into political matters.