In a shocking revelation, one of the top three Pakistani opposition leaders, Maulana Fazlur Rehman has told the Pakistani army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa that few of his generals are involved in a “conspiracy” to block the no-confidence vote and go for the dissolution of the National Assembly, Pakistan’s parliament.
In an interview with a local TV channel, Rehman said that while General Bajwa has been talking about “neutrality” of the military establishment and non-interference in the ongoing fight between Imran Khan and the combined opposition, his generals are helping the tainted Prime Minister. When he was asked to name them, Rehman said it is not the right time to “expose” them.
“Don't force us to name these people,” warned Rehman.
He asserted that for Pakistan’s stability, the military establishment has been a solid pillar and all of us have great regard for it. But there are people in the army who are involved directly in this conspiracy and he will expose them.
“I know what I am talking about and those people will come after me but I am ready,” said the cleric politician. He added that the military establishment should act swiftly against those generals otherwise he will be forced to “expose” them.
“They are people who want to keep Imran Khan as an asset,” Maulana Fazlur Rehman
Pakistan opposition alliance leader @MoulanaOfficial tells @asmashirazi he believes people within “institutions”are involved in “conspiracy”, referring to disallowing no-trust vote & dissolving assembly. “Don't force us to name these people,”he warns pic.twitter.com/XF3Sbs0Sxy
— Naimat Khan (@NKMalazai) April 5, 2022
“The Army says we are neutral, we explain every day but today when the whole world is asking what happened in the National Security Committee, where are the generals, clarify your position. It is not that we will remain silent. The army should immediately clarify its position, otherwise we will speak openly,” Maulana warns.
ڈی جیISPR کہتےہیں ہم غیرجانبدار ہیں، روز وضاحت دیتے ہیں مگرآج جب پوری دنیا پوچھ رہی ہے کہ قومی سلامتی کمیٹی میں کیا بات ہوئی توکہاں ہیں جرنیل، اپنی پوزیشن واضح کریں۔یہ نہیں کہ ہم احترام میں خاموش رہیں گے۔ فوج فوری طور پر اپنی پوزیشن واضح کرے ورنہ ہم کھل کر بولیں گے۔@asmashirazi pic.twitter.com/A62Jhze0n2
— waqar satti 🇵🇰 (@waqarsatti) April 5, 2022
Though Rehman did not take any name, it is an open secret that he was referring to Imran Khan’s “blue-eyed” Lt General Faiz Hameed, the former chief of the Pakistani spy agency ISI. In fact Bajwa had “deployed” Hameed to help in bringing Imran Khan as the “selected” Prime Minister after rigging the general elections in 2018. Since then, they became so close that Imran Khan was mulling to appoint Hameed as the next army chief, replacing General Bajwa.
Suspecting the plot, Bajwa immediately replaced Hameed with his close confidante Lt General Nadeem Anjum as the new ISI chief. Imran Khan resisted and tried to thwart Bajwa’s move but finally Bajwa won but the “differences” between Khan and Bajwa became out in the open.
According to the estranged friend of Imran Khan, the former assembly member Aamir Liaquat Husain, he had warned Khan against appointing Hameed as new army chief, saying it would lead to a strong reaction from all over the country.
"You tried to create division in the army. You tried to pit a corps commander and tried to remove the Army chief," Liaquat Husain said in a video message.
Watch Video: Imran Khan’s party member Liaquat Hussain slamming him.
#آئین_کا_غدار_عمران_خان
تم نے مجھ سے اکیلے میں کیا کہا یاد ہے کپتان!!! pic.twitter.com/d3jYiIdABa— Aamir Liaquat Husain (@AamirLiaquat) April 5, 2022
There have been growing demands in Pakistan for the powerful military establishment to “step in” to save the constitution of Pakistan and democracy.
“Judiciary has been controversial at many points, so has been the establishment. Today's situation provides a chance to both the institutions to play a non-controversial role and stand by democracy,” Bilawal Bhutto Zardari asked General Bajwa to clear the establishment's stand before it is too late.
Chairman @BBhuttoZardari addressing media:
Judiciary has been controversial at many points, so has been the establishment. Today's situation provides a chance to both the institutions to play a non-controvesial role and stand by democracy. pic.twitter.com/jrw7FZGC8E
— Maleeha Manzoor (@MaleehaManzoor) April 5, 2022
There is a feeling in Pakistan that the “puppet” PM Imran Khan cannot take the Pakistani constitution head on without some backing of the most powerful institution – the Pakistani army.
“Clearly, the army high command is letting the situation get worse. This is irresponsible and unacceptable. The likes of Fawad Chaudry (former law minister) and B Awan & some judges act according to signals. You can draw your own conclusions. Qasim Soori (former deputy speaker) was an actor who wrote the script,” the prominent Pakistani watcher Yosuf Nazar said.
There are many questions that General Bajwa has to answer.
Also Read: Opposition knocks at Army Chief Bajwa’s door after Imran Khan accuses it of treason
