Tag: military establishment

  • Legal action to be taken against Imran’s anti-state speech, PM Shehbaz Sharif

    Legal action to be taken against Imran’s anti-state speech, PM Shehbaz Sharif

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif has decided to take legal action against former PM Imran Khan’s speech during a rally in Abbottabad held on Sunday. PM Shehbaz termed Khan’s address a grand conspiracy against Pakistan.

    PM Shehbaz said those concocting a narrative against national institutions were the real Mir Jaffars and Mir Sadiqs. He said the state of Pakistan, the Constitution of Pakistan, and the respected institutions of Pakistan were challenged by Imran Khan in Abbottabad on Sunday.

    Shehbaz said what Khan was doing could only be categorised as a conspiracy, not politics and this conspiracy was not against any political rivals but against the country.

    “Pakistan cannot be surrendered and compromised over one person’s ego, arrogance, and blatant lies. Imran first conspired to destroy the economy of the country and is now planning to trigger a civil war in Pakistan”, said the premier.

    PM Shehbaz pledged that these nefarious designs of Imran Khan would be crushed. “Imran is this era’s Mir Jaffar and Mir Sadiq who wants Pakistan to face the same fate as Libya and Iraq,” added Shehbaz.

    The premier went on to say that Imran Khan was digging holes in the very boat he is riding and biting the hand that feeds him.

    “The people of Pakistan, the Constitution, and the institutions of Pakistan are not slaves of Imran Niazi, nor can he hold them hostage.” He slammed Imran’s speech and said he would not be allowed to become the Hitler of Pakistan.

    ‘Extremely damaging’, army condemns practice of defamatory remarks about them

    Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), in a press release on Sunday, noted that “intensified and deliberate attempts have recently been made to drag Pakistan Armed Forces and their leadership by some political leaders, journalists and analysts into the ongoing political discourse in the country”.

    The military’s media wing termed this practice as “extremely damaging”.

    “This practice of unsubstantiated, defamatory and provocative statements/remarks is extremely damaging,” the ISPR condemned while adding that army takes “strong exception to such unlawful and unethical practices”.

    “These attempts are manifest through direct, insinuated, or nuanced references to the armed forces as well as their senior leadership, made by some political leaders, a few journalists and analysts on public forums and various communication platforms, including social media”, the statement reads.

    Moreover, it said that the army “expects all to abide by the law and keep the armed forces out of political discourse in the best interest of the country”.

    Since the episode of the removal of former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan, on several occasions, the establishment has urged the public not to drag them into political matters and clearly said that there is no involvement from their side in politics.

    The statement came hours after Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s statement about the concept of neutrality, saying that God hadn’t permitted human beings to remain neutral when the time comes to stand up for justice and support the good.

    This is not the first time that Khan has made such comments. He once claimed that only animals can stay neutral and that humans either side with good or evil.

  • ‘Establishment offered us three options, not us’, Imran Khan maintains his stance

    ‘Establishment offered us three options, not us’, Imran Khan maintains his stance

    While talking to reporters, former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan insisted that the establishment gave him three options, contradicting the Pakistan military’s statement that the options were presented by Khan himself.

    Khan said, “The establishment gave me three options, so I agreed with the election proposal. How could I accept the resignation and no-confidence suggestion?”

    Last week, Director-General (DG) Major General Babar Iftikhar said that the PM Office had contacted the military leadership to help resolve the ongoing political crisis. He added that the army chief and DG ISI visited the PM office at “their” request to play the role of “mediator”.

    The former prime minister said that the military was onboard over the Russia visit. He said, “Gen Bajwa said we must visit Russia.” The army has also confirmed that they agreed with the decision to visit Russia.

    Responding to the recent Toshakhana (state gifts) controversy, the PTI chairman said they were his gifts, so it was his choice whether to keep them or not. “Meray tohfay, meri marzi [my gift, my choice],” he added.

    According to media reports, the former PM received gifts worth more than Rs140 million from world leaders during his tenure and he kept them all either by paying a minor amount or without any payment.

    “Whatever I took from Toshakhana is on record. I purchased the gifts after paying 50 per cent of the cost,” Khan said.

    Regarding Farah Khan, he said that she had no position or ministry, how could she take money, if anyone has any evidence, bring it forward.

    About his party’s rallies in Peshawar and Karachi after the removal of his government, Imran Khan said: “I have never seen such a large number of people coming out in Pakistan.”

    He maintained his stance that the PTI government was removed as part of an “international conspiracy” and urged the nation to not accept this.

    The former prime minister also admitted that the filing of a reference against Justice Qazi Faez Isa was a “mistake”. The reference against the SC judge should not have been filed, I have no personal enmity with anyone, it was sent by the law ministry”, the PTI chairman cleared.

  • ‘It’s in the interest of the country that establishment and Khan be on same page’: Sheikh Rasheed

    ‘It’s in the interest of the country that establishment and Khan be on same page’: Sheikh Rasheed

    Federal Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed has said that there is no difference between Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan and the military leadership and it is in the interest of the country that the establishment and Imran Khan be on the same page.

    In an exclusive interview with BBC Urdu, Rasheed said that the military leadership had decided that it would stand by the elected government.

    Responding to a question about the differences between the government and the army, the minister said, “Small differences can happen. There may be differences of opinion between the civil government and the establishment, but they are on the same page.”

    Rasheed had recently stated that the hand of the establishment is on Imran Khan’s head and later said that he was asked to withdraw this statement.

    However, Rasheed said he was still standing by his statement and that he had been asked by a person in the civilian government, not the establishment, to withdraw his statement. “I did not name the establishment but I meant that the policies of the government and the institutions are on the same page,” he explained.

    Rasheed further said that the PM is adamant on the issue of corruption and accountability and that he fired many people from the party or positions who were accused or suspected of corruption. “Imran Khan can’t do more than that,” he said.

    Accountability was Imran Khan’s biggest slogan but we did not get the success we deserved, he added.

    Rasheed said that the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was trying to repatriate those wanted by the courts and the government in Pakistan, but he also complained that despite many efforts, it is still not possible for Ishaq Dar to return.

    Regarding the return of former PM Nawaz Sharif, he said that the government of Pakistan is trying to get him back. “We have been doing this for three and a half years. We sent him ourselves, it is our fault. He [Nawaz] managed to throw dust in everyone’s eyes and went out.”

    Rasheed said that the reason for the former adviser on accountability and interior Shahzad Akbar’s resignation and the Prime Minister’s displeasure with him was not only about bringing back Nawaz Sharif or Shehbaz Sharif but also because “we could not bring back the money”.

    Sheikh Rasheed says there is room for improvement everywhere in the accountability process. “We need to prepare cases well, be good lawyers. Imran Khan has no lack of intent, he says giving National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) would be treason.”

  • Relationship with military ‘exceptional’, PM Khan assures all good with the army

    Relationship with military ‘exceptional’, PM Khan assures all good with the army

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan has once again reiterated that his government’s relationship with the military was ‘exceptional’ and the Opposition’s statements regarding a rift between the government and the military were ‘dead and buried’.

    During a meeting held by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)’s spokespersons chaired by PM Khan, the premier said that “civil-military relations are unprecedented these days”.

    PM Khan had expressed similar views earlier as well. During an interview with a journalist, the premier was asked about rumours of a possible deal between the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the establishment to send PM Khan’s government packing and whether he felt threatened in any way. The PM said he personally was not under any kind of pressure. He added that he enjoyed the support of government allies and expressed confidence that his government would complete its mandated five years.

    During the meeting with his spokespersons, the premier said that the party has presented its funding receipts to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and the
    “scrutiny committee has cleared the party of all suspicions.”

    “All other political parties should provide the receipts of their funding too,” demanded PM Khan.

    He further said that out of total funding of Rs310 million, an amount of Rs150 million was shown twice.

    “This [error] will be cleared in the next hearing of the ECP,” PM Khan said.

    “Isn’t Shahbaz Sharif ashamed of himself since he used too many TTs to launder money?” said PM Khan, talking about the electronic method of transferring funds (TTs) for overseas wire transactions.

    The premier talked about the foreign fundings received by other parties and said that the “PML-N should give an account of the billions of rupees of funding it received from overseas sources.”

    Prior to this, deposed Nawaz Sharif directed his party not to let Imran Khan off the hook on the basis of the ECP report, telling them to aggressively agitate the matter and not let both houses of parliament run smoothly till “justice” is done.

  • ‘PML-N is not to be blamed for the defeat in 2018’: Abbasi refutes Shehbaz’s claim

    ‘PML-N is not to be blamed for the defeat in 2018’: Abbasi refutes Shehbaz’s claim

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) senior leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi says that the PML-N is not to be blamed for the defeat in the 2018 general elections.

    He said the PML-N walked into the elections on the basis of its best five-year performance.

    Khaqan Abbasi, while speaking on Geo News programme, ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath’, refuted the claims of PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif.

    A day prior to Khaqan’s interview, Shehbaz had asserted that Nawaz Sharif would have been elected prime minister for a fourth time if the PML-N leaders had made a strategy based on consensus in the pre-2018 election period.

    Khaqan proposed a setting up of a truth commission to dig into what happened in the 2018 elections and the harm it has caused the country.

    Shahzeb Khanzada pointed out the ongoing confusion within the PML-N and said that the party presidency is in the hands of Shehbaz Sharif who supports “reconciliation” while the party narrative is being given by Maryam Nawaz who has an aggressive approach towards politics and advocates “resistance”. He further added that with this scenario, it seems likely that Nawaz Sharif has created this confusion.

    Abbasi said politics does not see either resistance or reconciliation. Politics is catered through principles instead. Shehbaz has always supported running the country in accordance with the Constitution, he said.

    Shahzeb asked that Shehbaz calls the criticism on the military an emotional statement while the party calls this criticism a policy statement.

    Commenting on Shehbaz’s remarks about criticism of the military leadership by Nawaz, Abbasi said Shehbaz only meant to explain Nawaz’s remarks. He said Shehbaz also mentioned that Imran Khan too had spoken against the army before coming into power, adding that the PML-N supremo did not criticise the army as a whole.

    He repeated his demand that a truth commission needs to be set up, saying it is the only way to dispel the confusion. The [former] chiefs of the ISI and army bring facts to light by writing books and giving interviews and the situation leads to more confusion, he added.

    The former premier said that there is a single narrative of Nawaz Sharif and the party, adding that Nawaz always wants every institution to function within its constitutional limits and the country to be run as per the Constitution. No compromise is possible on law and the Constitution, Abbasi said.

  • The establishment does not have a choice, says Shahid Khaqan Abbasi

    Talking to Samaa News reporter, Naeem Ashraf Butt, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said that for the first time in the history of Pakistan, the establishment does not have a choice. The problem is that there is a deal but no one is ready to take it, added Khaqan.

    When asked if the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) wanted to be a choice, Khaqan said: “No, we do not want to be a choice. We will not come into power through any deal.”

    When asked about Shehbaz Sharif’s interview with Kamran Khan and his stance that if he has to hold Nawaz Sharif’s feet for national interest, he would do so, Khaqan said: “We generally refrain from making such remarks in public.” Everyone has a way of expressing themselves, added Khaqan.

    “Shehbaz Sharif respects his brother like a father; what happens between the two brothers should be left to them,” said Khaqan.

  • ‘Pakistan will not give airbases to US’: General Bajwa

    ‘Pakistan will not give airbases to US’: General Bajwa

    Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Thursday said Pakistan will not give airbases to the United States (US) if the government has decided against it.

    According to an official statement issued after the security briefing held on Thursday, the session was informed that Pakistan played a highly positive and responsible role in the Afghan peace process.

    “Pakistan’s efforts paved the way for dialogue between Afghan factions and warring groups,” the meeting was told, while it was also noted that due to Islamabad’s efforts, meaningful talks have begun between the US and the Taliban.

    “Sustained peace and stability in Afghanistan will lead to stability in South Asia,” the meeting was informed.

    The participants were further told that Pakistan would welcome a government that was truly representative of the Afghan people and that it would continue its responsible role for peace in Afghanistan.

    “Pakistan’s territory is not being used in the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan […] and we hope that Afghanistan’s land is not used against Pakistan,” the DG ISI had reportedly said during the session.

    A meeting of the National Security Committee was held on Thursday. Army chief and heads of security institutions participated in the meeting. A briefing on Kashmir, Afghanistan, and internal security challenges was under discussion.

    It should be recalled that the government had turned down a US request for setting up drone bases in Pakistan for future counterterrorism operations in Afghanistan. Prime Minister Imran Khan had in his speech that Pakistan could be partner with the United States in peace, but not in conflict.

  • Maryam Nawaz being threatened, says Nawaz

    Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and head of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Thursday alleged that his daughter Maryam Nawaz Sharif is being threatened by some elements in the establishment that if she doesn’t stop, they will “smash” her.

    Besides Prime Minister Imran Khan, the PML-N chief also named three senior army generals.

    Later, Maryam tweeted that not only was she being threatened but she was being abused as well.

  • Senate election: Bilawal says establishment is ‘neutral’

    Senate election: Bilawal says establishment is ‘neutral’

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has said that the military establishment is playing a neutral role in the lead up to the Senate elections.

    Addressing a press conference in Lahore, the PPP chief said that his party criticises the state institutions when they act beyond their constitutional role. “It is heartening to see that they are not transgressing their boundaries,” the opposition leader added. He said that if the establishment is neutral, then we should welcome this.

    According to Bilawal, the Pakistan Democratic Movement is giving the “incapable government” a tough time. He said the PDM has aiming to strengthen democracy in Pakistan.

    “The responsibility of the opposition is to fight for the rights of people. Now we have exposed this selected and incapable government not only before the people of Pakistan but also before the entire world. This government tried to carry out massive rigging in the Daska by-election, but was exposed.”

    He thanked PML-N and JUI leadership for accepting PPP candidate Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani as the candidate of PDM for the Senate seat from Islamabad.

    “The march will also begin by the end of the month of March. It is time to say that just one more push is needed for the wall to fall,” he said.

  • Army’s intervention in politics detrimental to country, says ex-ISI chief

    Army’s intervention in politics detrimental to country, says ex-ISI chief

    Former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) director general Lt Gen (r) Asad Durrani has said that the meddling of the military in the political affairs, though a reality, was “detrimental to the country”.

    In an interview with BBC Urdu, the former general said whether the army should intervene in politics or not is a debate that has led us nowhere. “Our experience tells us that whenever the military intervened, the political parties ostracised staged a comeback,” Durrani said.

    “Gen Ayub Khan was supposed to keep Zulfikar Ali Bhutto out, but he staged a comeback and got elected. After Ziaul Haq, Benazir Bhutto came to power.”

    The same thing happened during the regime of Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf. “The two parties which he thought should be kept out – PPP and PML-N –were elected to power. So, this political engineering is harmful,” he said.

    “Imran Khan’s biggest problem is the impression that he did not come to power by himself and that he came with a khaki burden. Some people don’t learn from history because they say we will create our own history,” Durrani added.

    The former general also talked about challenges faced by Pakistan on external and internal fronts.

    “If you ask me challenges from outside, I would say Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey pose new challenges,” he said. The former ISI chief went on to say that “India has not always been the biggest threat to us”.

    “The country is facing three types of challenges: economy, political instability, and social cohesion,” he said.

    “There are some areas like Balochistan where there is unrest among people who feel politically alienated and deprived. The economy is in bad shape…. The government’s credibility is bad because people believe it has been brought into power by the military,” he said.

    He also opposed the changing of status of Gilgit-Baltistan which, he said, will be a blow to the Kashmir cause.

    “When I was looking after the affairs of Kashmir, a close friend of mine, Yusuf, explained to me that the day we made the mistake of changing GilgitBaltistan status, it would be a big blow to our Kashmir cause,” he said but did not explain who Yusuf was.

    “You may give more rights to G-B, if you want to, but it should not be forcibly made a province of Pakistan,” said Durrani, while commenting on recent government promises of giving Kashmir the provincial status.