Lahore: PTI Chief Imran Khan said he was ready to talk to Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir “For betterment of country”, stressing he has “No quarrel with establishment”. In wide-ranging discussion with reporters at his Zaman Park residence, he touched upon politics, his ties with military, his frustration with retired Army Chief Qamar Javed Bajwa and why he chose not to fly to Islamabad for court hearings. When asked why he was not speaking to “Establishment” a euphemism for military he said he never had quarrel with establishment and it was Gen Bajwa “Stabbed me in back”.

He added that even after he lost his government, he spoke to Gen Bajwa for betterment of country. “But it was General Bajwa who wanted to crush me,” he said. “But if anyone thinks that I will bend knee that cannot happen.” Imran also criticised retired general for “delivering a speech against Russia” and demanded that he be “Court-martialed for this speech”. “I am willing to speak to establishment even now for betterment of country but if no one is willing to talk, what can I do?” he asked. He then said “It seems like current Army Chief is considering me his enemy”.

He then challenged incumbent Army Chief to prove any corruption case against him and his wife. On ties with former Punjab Chief Minister Parvez Elahi who recently left PML-Q and joined PTI, he said establishment lacked an understanding of politics. “They tried their best to make Chaudhry Parvez Elahi leave my side.”

Published in The Daily National Courier, March, 04 2023

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