ISLAMAABD: September 5, 2022: Former prime minister, Imran Khan, has invited yet another crisis for his party by giving a highly controversial and treacherous statement on appointment of the new army chief.
Imran Khan, who is known for making things murkier for his some special agenda particularly relating to the armed forces of Pakistan had claimed in his public rally held in Faisalabad on Sunday that Asif Ali Zardari and Nawaz Shairf, his two main political opponents , want to appoint a weak army chief of their choice to hush- up their corruption cases.
Imran Khan’s this statement has seen harsh and blunt reaction from the army . Its public relations wing, Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) has issued a warning- cum statement wherein it said the army is in anger over Imran Khan’s highly concerning statement on appointment of the new army chief. ISPR added that Imran Khan’s objectionable statement in public is a part of vicious campaign to malign and defame top leadership of the armed forces. ISPR further said the statements such as one given by Imran Khan is neither in the interest of the statement nor institutions.
Imran Khan’s statement has literally jolted the system of Pakistan. Exactly, at a time when ISPR has issued an infuriated statement to snub Imran Khan , president Dr Arif Alvi, who hails from his party , has sought clarification from PTI chief on the issue. The president, who by virtue of his constitutional position is also supreme commander of Pakistan’s armed forces, has shown his utter dissatisfaction over Imran Khan’s controversial statement.
In a related development, Islamabad High Court (IHC) has disposed-off a PTI petition wherein it had sought removal of ban on live media coverage of Imran Khan’s speeches given in the public. Chief justice, Athar Minallah, questioned Imran Khan’s intention for publically dragging the issue of the army chief’s appointment. While disposing off the PTI petition to remove ban on Imran Khan’s live coverage, IHC chief justice observed here on Monday as to how Imran Khan can issue highly irresponsible statement on an issue like appointment of the army chief.
The army establishment is taking Imran Khan’s statement as a part of a vicious campaign launched by PTI against the army top leadership and a continuation of Shahbaz Gill’s rant he made on August 9, last which later resulted in his arrest in sedition case.
General Qamar Javed Bajwa is due to retire as army chief on November 29 this year. In a routine matter, the appointment of the new army chief is announced around one month prior to retiring date of the incumbent army chief. If the prime minister , who is a competent authority to appoint the new army chief takes the same procedure, the announcement of the new army chief may come by the end of October this year.
Imran Khan seems desperate to appoint the army chief. His untiring efforts to call the new general elections in the country without any delay dictate his intentions. His strong objection as prime minister to the appointment of the new Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) last year is self-explanatory and a real display of his eager to make important appointments with his own hands.
Although PTI as usual is busy in making clarification for damage control and at least three major hawks and political aides including Asad Umar , Fawad Chaudhary and Shireen Mizari, to Imran Khan are citing ISPR statement as unwanted there is serious need to understand the cause behind Imran Khan and his guys’ continuous vicious campaign against Pakistan’s armed forces.