Imran calls for court martial of Bajwa

Former PM says establishment knows nothing about politics

LAHORE:

Former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Friday demanded the court martial of former army chief Gen (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa for delivering a speech against Russia.

Imran complained that it seemed that the army chief was “taking me as his enemy”. Declaring that “I am not corrupt”, he challenged everyone to prove a single case of corruption against him or his wife.

“I challenge you to prove even one case of corruption against my wife and me,” the PTI chief told reporters in Lahore.

“[I challenge] even the army chief to dig out a case of corruption against me,” he added.

Imran stated that he had no quarrel with the establishment but if someone “thinks I will kneel down, this will not happen”.

He added: “Our establishment does not understand what politics is.”

The PTI chairman told reporters that he was ready to talk to the army chief for the betterment of the country, adding that what he could do if no one was ready to talk to him. However, he underscored the importance of strengthening the army.

The former prime minister against lashed out at Gen (retd) Bajwa. Gen [retd] Bajwa stabbed me in the back,” Imran said. “Gen [retd] Bajwa gave a speech against Russia […] he should be court-martialed for that speech.”

Imran alleged that every effort was made to ensure that former Punjab chief minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi left the PTI’s side. “Now, we have to show loyalty to Pervaiz Elahi, I cannot be unfaithful to anyone.”

To a question about the next chief minister of Punjab, Imran said that even some aspirants for the reserved seats for women also wanted to be the chief minister. In a lighter vein, he said: “If the decision is taken now, there will be a massacre.”

Asked further about any threat to his life, Imran said that a video about threat to his life had been recorded and placed abroad. “I am in danger from those who are supposed to protect me,” he added.

About the upcoming elections, the PTI chief said that government money would be save if the general elections [National Assembly and all the provincial assemblies] were held at the same time.

He expressed his optimism that the PTI would win the next elections. “We will win the election despite PDM (Pakistan Democratic Movement) umpires,” he said. “Overseas Pakistanis are with the PTI.”

When asked about the abrupt change of his travel plan to Lahore, the PTI chief said that he had information that the government wanted to arrest him from the airport and take him to Balochistan, therefore, he decided not to fly to the federal capital.

“But they should remember that jailing me will give us more votes,” he said. The PTI chairman also stated that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman “is still in touch with me”.