PESHAWAR : November 1,2022. In a major development, Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI) senior leader and former defence minister , Pervez Khattak, on Tuesday said his party has no issue whosoever becomes the next army chief.
Mr Khattak, who was also chief minister of Khyber Pukhtunkhaw (KPK) from 2013 to 2018 and is considered the most trusted political aide to PTI chief , Imran Khan, made these assertion regarding the appointment of next COAS , at a press conference here on Tuesday
If Mr Khattak’s announcement of Tuesday relating to the appointment of next COAS is read between the lines it can give a clear idea as to why PTI long march is not heading to Islamabad .
Pervez Khattak , who was accompanied by former speaker national assembly , Asad Qaisar , and KPK Education minister , Kamran Bangesh , at the presser added that the impression that PTI was interested in appointment of a particular general as COAS was totally baseless and has nothing to do with the reality.
Pervez Khattak said all top generals have excellent professional record.
Pervez Khattak’s remarks are in total contrast to the party chief’s public statements wherein he targeted the army top brass and demanded many times that the next army chief should be appointed on merit . There were a number of public statements of PTI leadership which created an impression that PTI wanted its input for appointment of the army chief. Even president, Dr Arif Alvi, who is constitutional head of the state argued that the government can consult with PTI on the issue of appointment of the next army chief though his suggestion had no space in the constitution.
Even a few days ahead when PTI chief launched long march from Lahore , he had fiery speeches against the army top brass.
Pervez Khattak denied that Imran Khan offered indefinite extension to the sitting army chief and questioned how could such offer be made when there was no room in constitution for any such extension.
In such an environment , Pervez Khattak’s statement against declared policy of the PTI is something more than a mere statement .
Pervez Khattak can not issue any such statement without the consent of Imran Khan.
Pervez Khattak also spoke on the schedule of the ‘Azadi’ long march . He said PTI march would be peaceful and the government should not use the force against PTI workers in Islamabad as peaceful protest is a fundamental right of every political party.
Pervez Khattak added that PTI workers from KPK will leave from KPK on November 4,2022 and reach via grand trunk road to Taxila . He noted that PTI supporters from KPK will wait in Taxila for final call of Imran Khan to march on Islamabad .
The PTI leader said his party workers will have licensed arms while marching on Islamabad for self defence .
It may be noted that KPK Education minister , Kamran Bangesh, who was also accompanying Pervez Khattak during the press conference , had issued a statement a day earlier and said PTI workers will have arms to defend themselves if the government uses forces against them.
