Current Final

Tag: establishment

  • ‘Will DG ISPR decide if there was any conspiracy or not?’: Imran Khan

    ‘Will DG ISPR decide if there was any conspiracy or not?’: Imran Khan

    Former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan responded to Director-General (DG) Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major-General Babar Iftikhar’s statement on the alleged foreign conspiracy and asked if he would decide whether the conspiracy was hatched or not.

    “Will DG ISPR decide if there was any conspiracy or not? He can only explain his point of view but can’t decide himself. Therefore, if you want to probe the conspiracy, ask the chief justice of Pakistan to probe and decide,” he said.

    Khan said that when he was PM, he had decided to form a commission to probe the conspiracy behind the no-trust motion, but proper investigation was not done.

    “Now there is only one way: the chief justice of Pakistan should conduct an open hearing to probe the ‘Lettergate’ conspiracy,” he added.

    Did not make any political statements, but clarified on behalf of the services chiefs of the Pakistan armed forces: DG ISPR

    Major-General Babar Iftikhar said that he “did not issue political statements” when he commented on the outcome of the National Security Committee (NSC) meeting.

    DG ISPR said he did not make any “political statements”, rather it was a clarification on behalf of the services chiefs of the Pakistan armed forces.

    He also responded to the claims of former Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed that “none of the services chiefs in the NSC meeting said that there was a conspiracy”.

    “He was in a way trying to convey that he was speaking on their behalf,” the DG ISPR said, stating that he was the spokesperson of the services chiefs, not Sheikh Rasheed.

    “I am the spokesperson of the services chiefs. If someone speaks something about the services chiefs, then I will have to clarify it — there is nothing political about this,” he said.

    DG ISPR further said that the services chiefs had provided detailed input in the meeting and they had presented information based on intelligence reports, not mere speculation or opinion.

    “This cannot be considered as someone’s opinion; it was a proper briefing based on intelligence reports,” he said.

     The military was ready to support the investigation in any way possible

    On the demands of the formation of a judicial commission to probe the matter, the DG ISPR said the military was ready to support the investigation in any way possible.

    “By all means, judicial commission or whatever forum the government of the day decides […] the institution will provide complete assistance,” the military’s spokesperson said.

    Intelligence agencies clarified in NSC meeting that there was no conspiracy against Khan: DG ISPR

    DG ISPR while talking to a private news channel said that no conspiracy was hatched to oust Khan. He said that the military leadership was present in the NSC meeting and the participants were clearly briefed by the intelligence agencies.

    “[They were] briefed that there was no conspiracy or evidence of any kind [against the then government], nothing like that happened. Participants were told in detail that there was no evidence of any conspiracy,” said the DG ISPR.

  • ‘A large part of the army wants elections’: Sheikh Rasheed

    ‘A large part of the army wants elections’: Sheikh Rasheed

    Former Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed has said that the establishment wants early elections to take place in the country.

    “The army itself is saying that elections should be held. A large part of the army is of the positive opinion that elections should be held,” said Rasheed, adding that a preception is being given that the military establishment is backing the sitting government.

    Rasheed was speaking to Channel 24.

    Read more: ‘Refrain from commenting on Pakistan’s nuclear programme’: Gen Nadeem Raza responds to Khan’s comment

    Veterans of Pakistan, an organisation of former military officers, held a press conference in Islamabad on June 6, where Brig (R) Mian Mehmood claimed that when the situation in Pakistan started to deteriorate, their team led by General Ali Quli went to meet the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa.

    “General Bajwa very clearly promised that he would hold elections in 90 days to make the situation in Pakistan better. Today we ask Gen Bajwa: where did his promises go?”

  • ‘We have criticised army as well not for our political gains like Khan’: Maryam Nawaz

    ‘We have criticised army as well not for our political gains like Khan’: Maryam Nawaz

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz on Thursday has said that they too have criticised the establishment in the past but that was never for any political gains. Her comments are relevant to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s recent remarks on the establishment and the division of Pakistan into three parts.

    “We have criticised the army as well but not for our political gains like Imran Khan but our remarks were to direct the establishment towards the right direction,” said Maryam.

    ‘Who introduced the ‘three-piece’ ideology?’

    “Sometimes you say Kashmir should be divided into three parts and now you are saying Pakistan will be divided into three parts,” said Maryam Nawaz.

    Maryam asked Khan who introduced him to the ideology of the country’s division into “three pieces”.

    “Whose ideology is it? Did Zac Goldsmith give you this ideology or Israel? There will be 300 pieces of the one who said such a thing and his party,” she said.

    Does he have any role in making Pakistan an atomic power?

    Maryam went on to say that the PTI chairman failed within 30 days of assuming the office of prime minister and was exposed within 30 days after being ousted.

    She asked under which right did Imran Khan talk about Pakistan’s atomic programme. “Does he have any role in making Pakistan an atomic power?”

    “[Politicians] have borne exiles and life sentences for Pakistan. [Zulfiqar Ali] Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto were martyred but the voice of Pakistan Khappay [we want Pakistan] was heard,” she said.

    Khan says Pakistan ke teen hissay hongay, Shehbaz warns him not to cross limits

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif warned Imran Khan on Thursday, saying that his recent remarks on Pakistan make him “unfit for public office”.

    Khan in an interview with Sami Ibrahim for Bol News programme ‘Tajzia’ said that if Pakistan goes bankrupt, then the country will have to face denuclearisation, predicting that the country would then be divided into three parts.

  • ‘No deal with establishment, wanted to avoid bloodshed’: Khan reveals reason for ending Azadi March

    ‘No deal with establishment, wanted to avoid bloodshed’: Khan reveals reason for ending Azadi March

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Friday said that the reason for ending the party’s Azadi March was to avoid bloodshed and that no deal with the establishment took place.

    “Our workers asked why we did not stage a sit-in. I am the man who staged a sit-in for 126 days. It was not difficult for me, but by the time I reached I became aware of the extent of the situation […] I knew that day that there would be bloodshed.”

    Khan said the people were “ready” after seeing the “terrorism” carried out by the police. “Everyone was ready to fight, some of our people were so angered by what they saw,” he said, adding that officials were instructed to brutalise protesters.

    “The anger at the time, if I had staged a sit-in that day I can guarantee that there would have been bloodshed,” said Khan, adding that there was a prevailing sense of hatred against police officials.

    “But the police is also ours, it is not their fault,” the PTI chairman said, blaming the government for issuing the directives. If there was violence then it would only have caused chaos in the country, said Khan.

    “I think of this as a jihad. I will stand up against this as long as I am alive,” he said, reiterating that he only cared about the future of the country.

    The PTI chairman again stressed his six-day ultimatum to the government for the announcement of early elections. “If they do not clearly announce a date for the elections or for the dissolution of the assemblies, I will take to the streets again. Let me make it clear, this time we will be prepared.”

    Khan said he had written to Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial asking whether or not the party had the right to stage a peaceful protest in a democracy.

    “This is the fundamental right of a citizen […] I ask our judiciary, do you think we will remain silent [like] sheep and accept all of this? If you think this, it means that we are pushing the country towards treason. If you do not allow people to stage peaceful protests, what other options do they have left?”

    He said that he had written a letter to the CJP to make his position “clear”, reiterating that he would take to the streets again after six days. In six days we will find out whether or not the apex court protects our fundamental rights, he said.

    The manner in which lawyers and women were forced to disembark from a bus and were “beaten”, had anyone seen something like that before, he asked.

    “Which justice system allows this? The entire nation should know who stands for [their] rights and who is carrying out oppression.”

  • ‘Target political opponents instead of fighting with the establishment’: Pervaiz Elahi

    ‘Target political opponents instead of fighting with the establishment’: Pervaiz Elahi

    Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) and Speaker Punjab Assembly Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi while giving an interview to Voice of America (VOA) said that the no-confidence motion succeeded against a sitting government and the establishment did nothing about it.

    Commenting on the neutrality of the establishment, Elahi said, “Can there be more neutrality than this? So it is not correct to say that they are not neutral. They [establishment] are neutral so target political opponents instead of fighting with the establishment.”

    Talking about the relations between Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and the establishment, Elahi said, “We are also trying to improve the relations between Imran Khan and the establishment. Whenever we went to Khan Sahib, we said that we don’t need to fight.”

    Chaudhry said that during the three-and-a-half-year rule, Khan’s relations with the establishment kept fluctuating on the foreign policy front but issues were resolved, adding that he is ready to play his part in improving relations with the establishment. “While some misunderstandings were created regarding Saudi Arabia and other countries.”

    The Speaker Punjab Assembly questioned the present governemnt and said why the government is looking for anonymity, and why it wants someone else’s intervention? “The government must deliver and lower the prices of goods, let Shehbaz Sharif show his mechanics and solve the problem of electricity.”

    “I have been with Sharifs for 22 years, and the track record of Sharif’s relationship with us was not good, Sharifs have always cheated us and we have always been with them, so we don’t want to repeat the same mistake,” said Elahi.

    When asked if Elahi will take charge as governor after the former governor of Punjab was sacked, he replied that he is still consulting his lawyers and has been advised to wait for the conclusion of the cases pending in courts.

    On early polls, Elahi said that Imran Khan wanted an early election for the national assembly constituencies only.

    “He wants the provincial assemblies to complete their terms,” Elahi told VOA Urdu, “there is no harm in holding polls for the national assembly now and provincial assemblies later.”

    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    ‘Establishment ne tumhara number block keeya hai’: Maryam Nawaz tells IK
    
			
    ‘Establishment ne tumhara number block keeya hai’: Maryam Nawaz tells IK
    
			
    

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz on Sunday took a jibe at Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and said that the way Khan was “crying” shows that the “establishment has blocked [his] number”.
    




    “Let me tell you that the number you are trying to call has been changed. Whenever you try to call on that number, you get a message that you do not have access to this facility anymore”, said Maryam.
    




    

    

    




    




    Maryam’s comments come after Imran Khan’s claim that the establishment is messaging him but he is not ready to talk to them. Khan said that he has blocked their numbers. 
    




    “This liar [Imran Khan] has crossed all limits of dishonesty. Allah Almighty humiliated him and removed him from power.”  
    




    


    




    “This inflation-monger Khan is saying today that inflation has gone up. In fact, when he says that inflation has increased, he is presenting a charge sheet against himself. When he says that the dollar has gone up, he presents a charge sheet against himself as [this is his government’s fault],” she said.
    




    


    




    “If you have a video, don’t wait for any accident. You will see that Nawaz Sharif will provide you more security than even Shehbaz Sharif,” said Maryam to Khan.
    




    


    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    Establishment is calling me, but I’ve blocked their numbers: Khan
    
			
    Establishment is calling me, but I’ve blocked their numbers: Khan
    
			
    

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman and former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan claimed Friday that the establishment is messaging him but he is not ready to talk to them, adding that he has blocked their numbers.
    




    “I am not going to speak to anyone until the date for the elections is announced,” the ex-premier said while speaking to journalists.
    




    Anchorperson Shahzad Iqbal said Imran Khan told media persons that when he referred to neutrals, he meant none other than the country’s powerful establishment.
    




    “I couldn’t even think that corruption was not an issue for powerful quarters and they would impose these criminals on the country, but unfortunately, that happened,” the ex-premier said, according to Shahzad Iqbal.
    




    “Instead of handing over the reins of power to these people, it would have been better if an atomic bomb had been dropped on Pakistan.”
    




    The PTI chairman said he had learned about the “conspiracy” in June last year, but unfortunately, “all the decisions” were made to weaken his government — and it was eventually sent packing.
    




    The former prime minister said “powerful quarters” wanted Usman Buzdar removed as the chief minister, but he would tell them that there was “more corruption and governance issues in Sindh”.
    




    Addressing PTI workers in Mardan, Khan said that he was ousted from power through a conspiracy hatched jointly by America and Pakistani Opposition parties’ leaders. He said he sent former finance minister Shaukat Tarin to ‘neutrals’ to stop the conspiracy being hatched against his government, as otherwise Pakistan’s economy would be ruined.
    





    But the ‘neutrals’ did not play their role to block the way of conspirators, he said, adding that a no-confidence move was allowed to succeed to replace him with “looters and plunderers”.
    




    “I know very well who conspired against me. The face of every Mir Jaffar who conspired against me is written on my heart,” said Khan. 
    




    Talking about Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, Khan said that he knew about telephonic conversations between Bilawal’s mother, Benazir Bhutto, who used to tell Bilawal on phone calls about where their money is abroad. “Bilawal is going to America and he will only ask them to help him. He will ask for money because they [ fear] Imran Khan will be back.”
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    ‘Comments on Faiz Hameed made by politicians very inappropriate’: ISPR
    
			
    ‘Comments on Faiz Hameed made by politicians very inappropriate’: ISPR
    
			
    

    Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) has said that the Peshawar Corps was an “illustrious formation” of the army and was spearheading the national war against terrorism for over two decades.
    




    “One of the most competent and professional officers is entrusted with the responsibility to lead this prestigious formation. Imprudent comments made by important senior politicians recently about [the] Peshawar Corps commander are very inappropriate,” the ISPR said.
    




    “It is expected that the senior political leadership of [the] country refrains from passing objectionable remarks against the institution, whose brave officers and men are constantly putting their lives on the line to guard the integrity and sovereignty of Pakistan,” read the statement.
    




    ISPR Director General (DG) Major General Babar Iftikhar reiterated that “many statements” were made in the last few days by the country’s politicians and termed them “highly inappropriate”.
    




    “It must be clarified that there is no problem with fair criticism,” the military spokesperson said, lamenting that social media was being used to create propaganda instead of mere criticism.
    




    “We, as an institution, have nothing to do with the political situation of the country,” he said, adding that the institution was showing “tolerance and restraint and requesting that the army is not dragged into politics”.
    




    The appointment of the next army chief should not be made “controversial” by turning it into a topic of debate. He said the procedure for the appointment of the army chief had been outlined in the Constitution, adding that it would take place in accordance with the law.
    




    On Wednesday, Pakistan People’s Party co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari had been asked about Lt Gen Hameed at a press conference in Karachi and had replied with: “The helpless Faiz Hameed has been sidelined.”
    




    Maryam Nawaz on Thursday said that the army chief should be a person who had a “flawless reputation”, free from any criticism or doubts.
    




    Maryam made these remarks in a press conference outside the Islamabad High Court on Thursday while answering a question about Defence Minister Khawaja Asif’s comments, wherein he had said that former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Lt Gen Faiz Hameed’s name could be considered for the new army chief.
    




    She said that the Pakistan Army is a respected institution and added that “the whole nation looks at the armed forces for the stability and security of the country”.
    




    The PML-N leader reiterated that the army chief should be a person who has a “flawless reputation” and who is good for the people, country, and the institution.
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    ‘Ready to move forward on Kashmir if India agrees’: General Bajwa
    
			
    ‘Ready to move forward on Kashmir if India agrees’: General Bajwa
    
			
    

    Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Saturday said that Pakistan continues to believe in using dialogue and diplomacy to resolve all outstanding issues, including the Kashmir dispute.
    




     “Pakistan is ready to move forward on this front if India also agrees to do so,” the COAS said.
    




    “I believe it is time for the political leadership of the region to rise above their emotional and perceptional biases and break the shackles of history to bring peace and prosperity to almost three billion people of the region.”
    




    Khanewal Indian Missile incident
    




    Gen Bajwa termed India’s “accidental” launching of a supersonic missile into Pakistan on March 9 a matter of “serious concern”.
    




    “We expect India to provide evidence to assure Pakistan and the world that their weapons are safe and secure.”
    




    “Unlike other incidents involving strategic weapons systems, this is the first time in history that a supersonic cruise missile from one nuclear-armed nation has landed in another,” he said.
    




    Relationship with the US
    




    “Pakistan does not believe in camp politics and our bilateral relations with our partners are not at the expense of our relationships with other countries.”
    




    He said that Pakistan sought to broaden and expand relations with both China and the US “without impacting our relations with [either]”.
    




    In addition, relations with the European Union, the United Kingdom, Gulf countries, South East Asia and Japan were also important for Pakistan’s progress, the COAS said.
    




    Pakistan enjoyed a close strategic relationship with China, which was demonstrated by the country’s commitment towards the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), he said, adding, “Equally, we share a long and excellent strategic relationship with the US, which remains our largest export market.”
    




    Afghanistan situation
    




    “Pakistan recognises that it is the regions and not countries that grow. This is why we believe that peace and stability in our wider region are prerequisites for achieving shared regional prosperity and development. In this regard, our doors are open for all our neighbours,” the COAS said.
    




    The army chief cautioned that an inability to address the issues would “not only lead to a refugee crisis but will again make Afghanistan an epicentre of terrorism where [the Islamic State] with its global agenda flourishes [and] may result in more than one 9/11”.
    




    Gen Bajwa stressed the need for the international community to support the Afghan government. “The performance of present Afghan government is not satisfactory, to say the least, but we have to be patient and accommodative.”
    




    “While Pakistan shares some of the concerns of the international community, we believe disengagement with Afghanistan is not an option,” he stressed.
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    ‘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.”