Former Prime Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan believes that the new army chief should be appointed after transparent elections.
While giving an interview to private TV, Imran Khan said that the appointment of the new army chief is important and should be based on merit.
The former prime minister said that Asif Ali Zardari and Nawaz Sharif do not believe in merit, they are only concerned about how to save their [ill-gotten] money.
The PTI chief said that if Nawaz Sharif and Asif Zardari come to power through transparent elections instead of using the backdoor, they can make appointments.
He questioned how the new army chief could fit an 85-seater Ferrari.
General Qamar Javed Bajwa is scheduled to retire from the post of Chief of Army Staff on November 29, 2022.
He further said that the country is in a critical situation, if they are interested in holding free and fair elections, I am always ready to talk to them.
In response to a question regarding the ECP’s decision to cancel the by-elections due to floods, the former prime minister said that more attention needs to be paid to the critical financial condition of the country.
He said that despite the IMF loan, our currency is depreciating rapidly, adding that the country needs political stability to achieve economic stability.
The Prime Minister said that if our banks become corrupt, they will start negotiations on our independence.
Imran Khan further said that I made a mistake by appointing Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja. There was a deadlock with Shehbaz Sharif [the then leader of the opposition] on the appointment of the CEC.
“Later, ‘they’, acting as umpires, suggested his [Raja’s] name. They guaranteed that he would be a good [choice],” he said. Imran Khan alleged that the Chief Election Commissioner does not miss any opportunity to backstab.
The former prime minister also alleged that he was sabotaging the electronic voting machine system through the Chief Election Commissioner.
Talking about the meeting with former US ambassador Robin Rafale, Imran Khan said that he has known Rafale for a long time. Imran Khan said that I do not support the American government but I support its American think tank.
The former said that he has no problem with America. “I understand clearly that we have to buy Russian oil and wheat at the lowest price, and for that we have built a long-term relationship with Russia.”
He said that the countries have issues in their bilateral relations but they can be resolved through dialogue. He further said that if India restores the constitutional status of Kashmir again, then I am ready to talk to India.
He said that our aim is to raise the standard of living of our people, we do not need war, we want peace.
Imran Khan said that he is not against it but his priority is to defend Pakistan and its sovereignty.
