ISLAMABAD: Former Prime Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan while raising a question on appointment of New Army Chief by those with just 85 seats said that Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa should be given extension until new government is elected.

In his exclusive interview with a local TV channel, former PM said that they still have option of dissolving provincial assemblies and they also have a few ideas and will push federal government staying within Constitution. He said that on one hand, a message is being conveyed that everyone should work together, while on other hand, his party is being pushed against wall. "I can bring whole nation onto streets," he said. Imran Khan said that country is passing through a difficult phase and he decided to stage a peaceful protest and go home, adding that elections could be delayed by around two months.

"How can a fugitive with just 85 seats appoint a new Army Chief," he asked, adding that opponents could appoint a new Army Chief if they win election and he would have no problem.

He said that floods have wreaked havoc in country and torrential rains caused flooding from Koh-e-Suleiman. Accumulated flood water in Sindh has ruined rice crop, which could lead to a food crisis in future and whole nation will have to help flood affectees.

Imran Khan said that Pakistan needs internal and external aid at this juncture as not a single dam has been constructed in past 50 years. He said construction work on 10 dams was started during his government. Regarding exchange rate of dollar, he said that during PTI government's tenure, dollar was at Rs 178 and growth rate was witnessed at 6 percent, while overseas Pakistanis sent $ 31 billion in remittances.  "We said that no one would be able to manage economy in case of instability at that time, adding that they had no plan to manage economy, these people just wanted to get rid of their cases."

Khan said that he could not imagine that Allah would give him such popularity, adding that he had not seen such enthusiasm during PTI's public rallies in big cities. "My popularity is increasing, but I am afraid of economic conditions," Imran said. While reiterating his call for early elections, PTI supremo said that best option is to hold elections in country to bring political stability and we have option to resign from all our governments.

"I can take nation out on streets whenever I want and people come to streets on my two-hour call, condition of common man is bad. It is not a difficult task to evacuate people, but I decided on peaceful protests because country is facing a difficult time and we cannot bear more damage," he said. Imran Khan admitted and stated that accepting name of Chief Election Commissioner was a big mistake.

Imran claimed that there was no possibility of political stability in country under coalition government.

Published in The Daily National Courier, September, 13 2022

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