Haqqani was hired to lobby against PTI govt in US: Imran

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan continued his relentless criticism of Gen (retd) Qamar Javad Bajwa, saying on Monday that the former army chief was altogether different person after getting extension to his tenure from the person he was before the extension.

Speaking to a select group of journalists, the former prime minister admitted that giving the extension to Gen (retd) Bajwa in 2019 was a mistake. He repeated his allegations that the former army chief gave NRO [amnesty] to “the corrupt rulers”.

“Gen [retd] Bajwa was altogether a different man after extension from the person we knew earlier,” Imran told the journalists. “I should not have given him the extension. I got a message at the last moment for his extension,” he disclosed. After getting extension Bajwa started to claim the army was neutral, he added.

Imran reiterated that Gen (retd) Bajwa acquired the services of former Pakistani ambassador to US Hussain Haqqani. “We were unaware from this development that Haqqani was hired to do campaign against me. A CIA operative was part of the Haqqani team, working to lobbying against the sitting prime minister,” he claimed.

“We were unaware about the scheme of removing the PTI government by imposing Shehbaz Sharif. Though, afterwards I got some indication that something is being cooked up but I overlooked it as I trusted Gen Bajwa. But when Shahzain Bugti switched loyalties, it had become clear that our days had been numbered,” he said.

Responding to a question, the PTI chief said his last meeting with Gen (retd) took place in August. “During this meeting, the former army chief told him that “we have your files, we have your audios and videos while saying that you have been a playboy”.

On that, Imran added: “I replied that I never claimed to be an angel, I had been a playboy but Allah Almighty has given me an opportunity to repent my sins”. Imran also said that Gen (retd) Bajwa had started asking him to focus on the economy and leave accountability.

“Corruption cases against the PML-N [Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz] were not made during our government. They bought multi-million dollars properties in London but have not disclosed the source of funding yet,” the former prime minister told journalists.

Read Imran claims Qamar set-up still at work in establishment

Imran claimed that he trusted Gen (retd) Bajwa but the former army chief was not the one who considered corruption bad. “I thought that the establishment thought like me but it never happened. They did oppression on journalists. Senator Azam Khan Swati was tortured for exercising his right to expression.”

The worst damage Gen (retd) Bajwa had done was to give the “NRO to these corrupt rulers”, the PTI chief said, referring to the political amnesty granted by the then military ruler Pervez Musharraf through the National Reconciliation Ordinance in 2007. The ordinance was later struck down by the Supreme Court.

Imran highlighted that during his government, the country’s exports touched the highest level. But today, he added, the economic situation had worsened to an unprecedented level. “Free and fair elections are the only solution to the current political instability and economic chaos,” he emphasised.

The PTI chief claimed that two female members of the Punjab Assembly from his party had disclosed to him that they had been offered bribe to abstain from voting for Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi. “Big mafias are operating here to topple the public mandate in Punjab,” Imran alleged.

Meanwhile, during a meeting with the PTI spokespersons, Imran instructed them to inform the people about the government’s failures. “The facts behind the economic meltdown and inflation should be conveyed to the people,” sources quoted Imran as saying in the meeting.

According to the sources, Imran also directed the spokespersons to make the party narrative against the government more effective and asked them to raise voice against human rights violations and mobilise the people for the PTI rallies against inflation.

Separately, Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid visited Anarkali area to distribute awareness pamphlets related to the ‘Sehat Sahulat Card’. On this occasion, the PTI Central Punjab president said that inflation during the current government had broken all records.

“The people are demanding elections,” she stated. “Under the leadership of Imran Khan, we want to make Pakistan a great country according to the vision of Quaid-i-Azam,” she said, adding that she was confident that the PTI would win the coming general election with a two-thirds majority.