Rawalpindi: Taking a direct dig at PTI chief Imran Khan, Director General Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lt Gen Nadeem Anjum said that it is not possible for the former prime minister to meet Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa at night. And then call them. A “traitor in the day”.
“If the army chief is a traitor, why meet him secretly? It is your right to meet him but it is not possible to meet him at night and call him a traitor during the day,” asked the DGISI.
Lt Gen Anjum said the army had been called “neutral and animals” because they had committed treason by refusing to be part of an “illegal” decision. He said that the refusal to do “illegal work” is not the decision of a single individual or the army chief, but of the entire institution.
The ISI chief said the army was under a lot of pressure since March but decided to confine itself to a constitutional role.
He said that General Bajwa could have spent the last 6 months of his term in peace but he took the decision in favor of the country and the institution.
‘If COAS Is a Traitor, Why Was He Praised?’
Lt Gen Anjum said, “The former government had offered the army chief an indefinite extension of his tenure to thwart the no-confidence motion, but he turned down the offer.” It also wondered if the Commander-in-Chief was a traitor, then “why was he praised so much in the past”.
DGISI asked that if the army chief is a traitor in your eyes, why did you want to extend his tenure, why do you meet him secretly?
DGISI said Sharif was in touch with the agency when he was in Pakistan and maintained contact even when traveling abroad. He also said that he is in touch with his Kenyan counterpart regarding his death.
DGISI said that we are not satisfied, that is why the government has formed an inquiry team. He added that members of his agency were deliberately excluded from the inquiry committee.
On the same point, Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lt Gen Babar Iftikhar said that the army has decided not to involve ISI and military intelligence officials in the investigation as unnecessary fingers are being pointed at the agency. were
DG ISPR made this comment during an unprecedented press briefing with DGISI on the death of senior journalist Arshad Sharif in Kenya. Lt Gen Anjum was invited by the military spokesman considering the “sensitivity of the matter”.
DG ISPR said at the beginning of the press conference that the purpose of this press conference is to inform about the death of prominent senior journalist Arshad Sharif in Kenya and the circumstances surrounding it.
‘People Were Misled’
Lt Gen Iftikhar said the press conference is being held at a time when it is “important to present the facts accurately” to distinguish between “facts, fiction and opinion”. He also informed that the media wing of the army has informed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif about the press conference.
The head of the army’s media wing said there was a need to look into “the way in which false narratives were created and people were misled”.
The DG ISPR said that “institutions, leadership and even the army chief have been blamed without reason for creating an unprecedented chaotic situation”.
Lt Gen Iftikhar said Sharif’s death was a “very sad incident”. He described the senior journalist as an icon of Pakistani journalism, son of a martyr and brother of a martyr and brother-in-law of a serving officer. He further said that his programs will be seen as a role model for journalists.
DG ISPR shared, “Since Arshad was an investigative journalist, he also looked into the cipher case when it came to light.” He also highlighted that the journalist had also interviewed the then Prime Minister Imran Khan on the issue, adding that it was then claimed that he was shown the document.
DG ISPR said that “there is a need to find out the facts related to the death of Saefer and Arshad Sharif, so there is no ambiguity in this regard”.
DG ISPR said that the facts related to the death of Sypher and Arshad Sharif need to be found, so there is no ambiguity.
The army spokesman also said the army chief had discussed the cipher with the PTI chief in Kamra, adding that Imran Khan himself had said the document was “no big deal”.
DG ISPR said, “It was surprising to us when Imran Khan threw paper at the March 27 rally in an attempt to give a narrative that was not in any way connected to reality, dramatized.” had gone’.
Lt Gen Iftikhar said that several facts have come to light regarding the cipher so far which have exposed the “hollow and fabricated story”. He further said that the opinion of the Pakistani ambassador was used by the former prime minister for his political interests.
The ISI informed the National Security Committee “in a very clear and professional manner” that it had found no evidence of any conspiracy against the government, a military spokesman said. He said the NSC was briefed that it was the Envoy’s personal assessment and the Envoy recommended the strategy, the NSC recommended the same strategy to the Foreign Office.
“There was no evidence of any conspiracy in the ISI cipher findings,” he said, adding that all these findings were on record. The PTI-led government took the decision, but it was not implemented.
DG ISPR said, ‘Instead, more false news and rumors were spread to gain political advantage and create a certain narrative, that the no-confidence motion was part of a regime change process rather than a constitutional, political and legal issue. was’
Salman Iqbal Should Be Included In The Investigation
Lt. Gen. Iftikhar said that Pakistan’s institutions, especially the leadership of the army, were targeted and were linked to treason and regime change operations. He said that during this time Sharif and other senior journalists were fed a specific narrative.
DG ISPR said that during the media trial, the private TV channel played the role of spin doctor in spreading false narrative against Pakistan Army and leadership.
Political intervention was expected from Pakistan Army which is against the constitution. The DG ISPR said that the word ‘neutral’ has been abused. He further said that the institution and the Army Chief showed utmost restraint and restraint despite all this.
DG ISPR said that we tried our best to get these politicians together to solve the national problems but it was not possible. He added that Sharif, social media activists and others spoke about the cipher and said very “serious” things about it.
Alert issued to Force Sharif to Leave Pakistan, DG ISPR
DG ISPR said that ‘Arshad was doing a program on ARY from December 27 in which there was severe criticism against various institutions but despite this we had no negative feelings towards him and Neither are now.
He said that the threat alert looks like an action to force Sharif to leave the country.
Lieutenant General Iftikhar said that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government issued a threat alert regarding Sharif on August 5, 2022.
He said that the threat alert looks like an action to force Sharif to leave the country.
“Salman Iqbal told [Senior Executive Vice President ARY News] Imad Yusuf after Shahbaz Gul’s arrest to send Arshad out of the country,” he added, adding that the ARY CEO was brought back to Pakistan. It should be made part of the death investigation. of the journalist.
We all should wait for inquiry commission, have faith in our institutions, we are washing past mistakes with blood for last 20 years, we can make mistakes but we cannot be traitors or conspirators, DGI SPR said.
Investigations Should Be Impartial
When questioned, the military spokesman said the investigation into Sharif’s death should be “completely impartial”. He further said that unnecessary fingers are being raised on the institution.
Lt Gen Iftikhar said that he has information regarding Sharif’s death but is not making it public at present.
He said that a third party may be involved in Arshad Sharif’s case. We will provide all possible help in Arshad Sharif case if needed.
In response to a question, DG ISPR said that Nawaz Sharif is in touch with him and other military officials. He also stated that the journalist never mentioned the threat to him or anyone else.
Lt Gen Iftikhar said that the army has investigated the threat issued by the KP government but they have not found any evidence related to it.
