LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan said law allowing extension in tenure of Chief of Army Staff (COAS) must be abolished. At meeting with columnists and analysts, he said former COAS Gen (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa mocked country by giving NRO-II to PDM adding PTI would not hold talks with looters of billions of rupees. “Negotiations could be held only on date of fresh elections”, he added. Imran said he was expecting new Army leadership to stay ‘neutral’ adding that institution could deliver only while staying in ambit of law. “I do not hold personal grudge against anyone, instead I am concerned about people”, he added.

He averred that those thinking assemblies would not be dissolved must wait for his tomorrow’s speech adding there was no rift between Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid and PTI over matter.

Talking about date of dissolution of assemblies, he said assemblies would be dissolved in December adding there was no way to country’s prosperity other than fresh elections. Earlier, PTI Chief said people were fleeing country in sheer frustration over what had happened in past seven months.

Former premier emphasised importance of rule of law in his address which he delivered via video link. He said rule of law was topic that required discussion and attention. “It is absolutely necessary for country to come out of this catastrophic situation,” he said. He bemoaned that country was lurching towards quagmire. Khan took swipe at coalition government, claiming that no precedent for looters being installed as nation’s rulers existed in Western democracies or that such thing was unthinkable. He said that as soon as they assumed office, rulers took step to absolve themselves of corruption. Speaking about NAB cases, Khan asserted that retired Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa was taking decisions in cases brought up by NAB against current rulers. When criticising his successor Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Imran Khan claimed that although corruption case against Shehbaz Sharif was conclusively proved, no one heard about it. He criticised PML-N top brass, saying “Worst criminals are currently deciding fate of country”. Khan also spoke about bleak future of farmers and traders.

Published in The Daily National Courier, December, 17 2022

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