On Wednesday, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif asserted that former Prime Minister Imran Khan had spoken with the “establishment” by way of President Arif Alvi.
Speaking to the media in the nation’s capital, the minister claimed that as November approaches and the much-discussed selection of a new army chief, the PTI head was “losing his nerve.”
Asif stated that Imran Khan “has not been in his right mind and is afraid since November is quickly coming,” adding that in November, everything would work out in accordance with the law and the Constitution.Asif continued by stating that the Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), General Qamar Javed Bajwa, should be permitted to interact with the soldiers “respectfully” as his position will be ending at the end of this month.
The administration has not yet decided who will succeed General Bajwa, the defence minister emphasised.
The minister went on to say that five names had surfaced and that, in accordance with custom, any of those general staff officers or a person not on the list may be appointed. He also added that all three-star rated officers were qualified for the position of army chief.
“Imran Khan exhibits hypocrisy and tells lies about Pakistan’s security forces. But we must support the army, he continued.
The general elections would be held on schedule, he added during the media discussion.
Maryam Nawaz, vice president of the PML-N, also claimed on Tuesday that Imran was pursuing an NRO-style agreement in private talks at the President’s House and that if he did not succeed, he would take to the streets.
Maryam was responding to rumours that Imran just met at the Aiwan-e-Sadr with a “important personality.”
