Imran claims Qamar set-up still at work in establishment

PTI chief accuses former COAS of hiring Hussain Haqaani for lobbying in US against him

LAHORE:

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has once again lambasted Gen (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa, claiming that the former army chief had “hired” former Pakistani ambassador to Washington Hussain Haqaani for lobbying against him [Imran] in the US.

Speaking to a select group of journalists in Lahore on Sunday, the PTI chief alleged that Haqqani was tasked with campaigning against “me while promoting Gen [retd] Qamar”. He also claimed that Gen (retd) Qamar’s set-up was “still working in the establishment”.

However, the PTI chairman underscored that the establishment could play an important role in pulling the country out of the current chaos and that fresh general elections were the only solution to the current political instability and economic woes.

“The country can only progress when the army and all political parties are on the same page,” Imran underlined. He reiterated that the relations between him and the former army chief turned sour because Gen (retd) Qamar did not want accountability in the country.

Also read: Imran sees elections in March or April

Recalling his last meeting with the former army chief, Imran disclosed that Gen (retd) Qamar termed him a “playboy”, adding that he replied: “Yes, I had been a playboy.”

To a question, Imran said that Gen (retd) Qamar was expressing solidarity with him after stabbing him in the back.

“Our [PTI’s] three members of the Punjab Assembly had been asked to remain neutral on the no-trust motion filed by the collation government against Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi,” the PTI chairman told the journalists.

“Similarly, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) factions are being united and Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) leaders are included in the PPP [to counter the PTI in the next election]. However, this will not help the country. Only free and fair elections are the need of the hour,” he emphasised.

Continuing his tirade against the former army chief, Imran alleged that Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja used to do what Gen (retd) Qamar would tell him to do. Even Gen (retd) Qamar was controlling the issue of electronic voting machine. “Gen (retd) Qamar was 100% behind the CEC,” he claimed.

The PTI chairman alleged that the CEC was playing in the hands of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

To another question, Imran said: “I have never discussed the posting of Chief Election Commissioner's wife.”

On the government’s advice for returning to parliament, Imran underscored that there was no benefit in returning to the National Assembly. “What will we do by going back to parliament … there is no benefit,” he said. “Let there be transparent elections in the country and a sustainable government.”

Criticising Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Imran said that his PTI government had an excellent relationship with the incumbent Afghan government while Bilawal, also the chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), knew nothing about the neighbouring country.

Imran termed a sudden increase in terrorism in Pakistan “an inside job”. “Dollars can be earned by selling terrorism. Musharraf also earned dollars by selling terrorism but 80,000 lives were lost,” he said, adding that he always spoke against operations in Waziristan because “the military operation” was not a solution to any issue.

When asked about any meeting with former interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Imran said that he had not been in contact with Nisar for a long time. However, he added: “Good to know about Chaudhry Nisar's political gathering last week.”

On the appointment of Najam Sethi as the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) Management Committee, Imran said: “He [Sethi] did not know the ABC of cricket. The PCB constitution was changed to bring Sethi. Unfortunately, because of him, cricket has been ruined before and will be again.”

Imran, a former captain of the Pakistan cricket team, highlighted that the national side had reached the final of the world cup under former PCB chairman Ramiz Raja. “Ramiz is an educated man. He understands cricket. What does Najam Sethi know?” Imran questioned.

Protest drive

Meanwhile, the PTI, on Sunday, kicked off its protests against the rising inflation, prolonged power and gas outages and deteriorating economic situation in the country. The party staged demonstrations in Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad and Rawalpindi, demanding a cut in prices of essential commodities.

Read More Bajwa did to Pakistan no enemy could, says Imran

Senior PTI leaders who participated in the rallies in Lahore included Dr Yasmin Rashid, Mian Aslam Iqbal, Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed and Hammad Azhar. The main rally culminated in Yateem Khana Chowk, where the protesters chanted anti-government slogans.

Addressing the rally participants, Dr Yasmin said: “The nation has proved that they want real freedom. The whole country is standing with Imran Khan.”

She slammed Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah, asking him to “see all the crowd” in the rallies.

Iqbal said: “The PTI government was ousted through a conspiracy, after which the imported government had made it difficult for the people to survive. The incumbent government has been brought through a foreign plot and it is working as per their orders.”

Azhar said that the nation decided against the government in power and no more decisions would be taken “behind closed doors”.