LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan revealed that General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa “Sent two brigadiers” in Joint Investigation Team in Panama Papers case that ultimately led to disqualification of then premier Nawaz Sharif.

جیسے ہی جنرل باجوہ کو ایکسٹینشن دی تو ایک اور باجوہ آگیا، کہے کیس چھوڑو معیشت پر زور دو، عمران خان pic.twitter.com/kvJ8Gbk3zA

— PTI (@PTIofficial) January 21, 2023

Speaking in an interview on private channel, Imran reiterated his stance that Bajwa ‘changed’ after he was granted an extension in his tenure in 2019. “General (retd) Bajwa used to pressure me to focus my energy on economy and forget about accountability,” said Imran stressing “Before extension, he used to sit journalists down and tell them how much corruption they [political leaders] have been involved in” and later same leaders were “Brought into power”. Nevertheless, Imran defended his past decision to rely on “Deep state” when he was in government. “Establishment is reality in this country, it is single intact and organised institution at moment. If you do anything through army, it gets done,” he said.

Counting “Positives”, Imran said that when it came to management of coronavirus endemic among other health and natural crises “They were able to do things bureaucracy and health department could not”. “But negative is that if they decide against something then it cannot be done. There is no accountability and no rule of law then,” he added.

Imran’s statement comes two days after Nawaz had held ex-Army Chief and former Director General of Inter-Services Intelligence General Faiz Hameed responsible for current state of affairs in country.

Meanwhile, he urged his party members to speed up electoral campaign, which he regard as “Election karao, mulk bachao” campaign. He prepared strategy to react to acceptance of PTI lawmakers’ resignation in National Assembly.

Imran Khan said once PTI will completed process of resignations, he will “Pour onto streets” himself to give tough time to coalition government. Khan also directed his stalwarts to prepare schedule for public gatherings. Sources privy to development said PTI will underscore issues of “Regime change and government’s economic policies” in its election campaign. To take country out of quagmire and economic woes, Khan will give his supporters, roadmap. After NA Speaker accepted resignations of 70 PTI lawmakers, Khan handed over task to party leaders of getting resignations of rest of PTI lawmakers accepted, under supervision of former NA Speaker Asad Qaiser.

Published in The Daily National Courier, January, 23 2023

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