ISLAMABAD : Nov 30,2022: Pakistan Tehreek – e – Insaf (PTI) chairman , Imran Khan, has congratulated Lt Gen Asim Munir for assuming charge of the army chief of Pakistan . He also expressed good wishes for Lt Gen Sahir Shamshad and congratulated for assuming the charge of the chairman joint chief of army staff committee (CJCSC).
In his statement , PTI chief Wednesday said he expects the new army leadership will take steps for trust – building to move the country forward . He maintained that the people of Pakistan are the real force and power to make the country a real power.
PTI chief’s statement to congratulate the new army chief and CJCSC has come after 48 hours from transfer of the power to the new military leadership.
Gen Asim Munir and Gen Sahir Shamshad had assumed charge of their offices on Nov 29 and Nov 25 respectively.
Imran Khan’s congratulation to the new military leadership can be seen as a major indication that PTI is looking for a fresh start with Pakistan ‘s establishment.
For months , PTI did not have good relationship with the establishment . Imran Khan had a feeling that the establishment had a role in his ouster from the power in April last . This resulted in public assailing of the establishment by PTI leadership.
Although PTI used every trick to make the feeling to the public that its anti establishment campaign was just for forcing it to play a role for early elections in the country and Imran Khan remained successful in creating anti establishment narrative among PTI office bearers and to some extent in hard liner party workers, but the public at large rejected this narrative . Seeing the public trend , PTI chief softened his anti establishment narrative. The PTI leaders who were onboard with PTI chief to push forward anti establishment narrative also seem distancing from this narrative.
With changing trend of PTI leadership about the military leadership it’s expected that it will bring stability in Pakistan, besides difusing the impression that PTI was targeting the army institution to weaken it and expose Pakistan’s security .
Meanwhile , the army chief , Asim Munir and CJCSC , Sahir Shamshad Mirza called on president , Dr Arif Alvi and prime minister , Shahbaz Sharif , seperately.
The president and prime minister congratulated both the army chief and CJCSC for assuming their offices.