PM claims rejected Imran’s proposal on COAS appointment

Forms panel for talks with PTI; Imran says talks only on early elections date

ISLAMABAD:

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Saturday he rejected a proposal from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan about the appointment of army chief, and instead offered him dialogue on Charter of Democracy and Charter of Economy.

Talking to vloggers, the prime minister said that the PTI chairman offered talks with the government a month ago through a mutual businessman friend to resolve two issues, one of which was the appointment of the army chief.

"Imran Khan offered [to conduct] negotiations," Prime Minister Shehbaz told vloggers. "The first matter was the army chief's appointment and the second was holding early elections," he added.

“Imran had suggested that we give him three names and he gives three names for the post of army chief and then we decide on the appointment of the new chief from those six names,” the prime minister said.

“If there is a common name in both the lists, then we will agree,” the prime minister said, adding, however: “I flatly refused Imran Khan’s offer by saying thank you.”

Shehbaz added that he had sent a message that appointment of the army chief was a constitutional duty that the prime minister would have to perform. “I have offered Imran Khan to discuss Charter of Democracy and Charter of Economy.”

He also said that Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) director general held a press conference along with the director general of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) earlier this week with his permission.

He explained that he was told that the ISI chief wanted to hold the press conference because he (ISI DG) was eyewitness to the meeting between Imran Khan and the army chief. He added the ISI chief put the whole matter in front of the people.

“Imran Khan is currently targeting the army leadership only to fulfil his personal desires,” Shehbaz said. “Imran Niazi now spewing poison against those who nurtured him. No one is safe from his mischief,” he added.

Also read: Govt snubs Imran’s COAS extension proposal

When was asked whether the PTI long march could also go to Rawalpindi, the prime minister replied that anything could be expected from this person [Imran]. “He can do anything. But the government will, by all means, protect Rawalpindi and Islamabad from any aggression,” Shehbaz pledged.

Replying to another question, the prime minister said that when institutions were helping Imran Khan in every way, “we remained silent only because they were doing it for the sake of the country. But when he failed and the support was gone, he turned against them.”

Committee on march

Meanwhile, Shehbaz formed a 13-member committee, including representatives from the coalition parties, regarding the long march, saying that if any one wish talks, could contact this committee.

Led by Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah, the committee includes Ayaz Sadiq, Khawaja Saad Rafique, Hanif Abbasi, Maryam Aurangzeb and Dr Tariq Fazal of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

Beside, Qamar Zaman Kaira of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Aminul Haq of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), Mian Iftikhar of the Awami National Party (ANP), Khalid Magsi of the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), Maulana Asad Mahmood of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) and Tariq Bashir Cheema of the PML-Quaid, are also part of the committee.

“We are democratic people and are ready for dialogue but we will not allow anyone to take law into their hands,” the prime minister said. “Our doors are always open for negotiations,” he added.

The committee is formed a day after PTI Chairman Imran Khan started long march towards Islamabad – dubbed as Haqeeqi Azadi [real freedon] march – from Lahore, demanding early elections in the country.

The committee has been established to maintain law and order and hold political discussions regarding the long march, it was stated. If anyone wanted talks about the long march, it would be conducted with the committee.

However, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb – who is also a member of the committee – ruled out the possibility of any talks with the PTI.

Aurangzeb said in a statement there would be no talks with the “foreign-funded Fitna [mischief]”, adding that the “real face of Imran Khan, his politics of lies and fake character have been exposed”.

Talking to the media separately, Aurangzeb said that the next general elections would be held on their scheduled time, despite bullying, threats, abuses and intimidation attempts by the PTI chairman.

“Imran’s long or short, jump or walk or even march will make no difference,” the minister said. Referring to the PTI’s previous long march on May 25, she said that “armed miscreants were caught, who wanted bloodshed”.

“There was always an option of negotiations in politics, but talks are held with politicians, not with foreign-funded fitna, who is roaming on the streets,” she said. “Should there be any talks with those who play with the national interests?”

The minister reiterated that there would be no negotiations with those who wanted to achieve their political ambitions by causing deaths through bloody marches. “The PTI chairman is busy promoting chaos and anarchy.”

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif also expressed the same views in his tweets, stressing that elections would be held as per schedule. He regretted that the PTI chairman had crossed all the red lines and the identity of a Pakistani..

“Negotiations and consensus amongst political forces are part of democracy. However, there is no possibility of the kind of negotiations that the PTI is creating a ruckus about,” he wrote in a tweet.

“The Indian media does not support Narendra Modi as much as it is currently supporting Imran Khan,” the minister wrote, adding that the Indian media was giving full coverage to the language being used by Imran against institutions.

The minister claimed that Imran had become “spokesperson of our enemy”, adding: “Let Imran Khan fulfil all of his desires. Right now, the Indian media is giving him full attention and air time… enjoy that.”

(With inputs from APP)