LONDON – PML-N vice president Maryam Nawaz said on Tuesday that thePakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf is holding the long march with single purpose andthat is creating hindrance in appointment of the country’s new army chief.
The coalition government is set to appoint new army chef as incumbent Chiefof Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa is going to retire thismonth.
PTI chairman Imran Khan had been expressed concerns that the governmentwanted to appoint new COAS of its choice, saying he will not let thishappen.
Addressing a press conference in London, Maryam Nawaz said that Imran Khanhad nothing to do with the appointment of new army chief, adding that thehigh-profile appointment will be made by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
She claimed that the PTI’s long march is a failed show as Khan had toaddress to “commuters” on the roads as people had rejected him.
She said that Imran Khan’s long march is still stuck in Lahore for fivedays, and now it is being said that the caravan will reach the capital cityin eight to ten days.
“At this pace, your long march will not reach Islamabad even after amonth,” she said. The PML-N leader also lamented over the death ofjournalist Sadaf Naeem during the coverage of the long march.
Maryam said that there were such serious lies from the PTI that DG ISI hadto come on television for a press conference, adding that public shouldunderstand the seriousness of the situation.
She said that no one would hold talks with Imran Khan whether its sit-in inthe capital city continues for months.
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The PML-N leader claimed that taxpayers’ money is being used to providesecurity to a march, which has nothing to do with public interest.
She also slammed Khan for bragging about winning the by-elections and saidthat he emerged victorious in those constituencies which were vacated byhis own party lawmakers.
She said that the PTI chief should wait for his biggest opponent, PML-Nsupremo Nawaz Sharif, adding that Khan will learn about his real popularitywhen Nawaz will get a chance to contest elections.
Maryam also said that Nawaz Sharif will “Insha Allah return to Pakistansoon”.
Commenting on Imran Khan’s statement that it was the establishment thattold him that the government leaders are thieves, she asked: “Was it theestablishment that told you to steal gifts from the Toshakhan and sellthem?”
Maryam claimed that another big scandal, involving PTI, will be exposedsoon.
“Pakistan had received a diamond set by Graff, one of the leadingdiamond-manufacturing companies in the world. Khan bought it from theToshakhana for Rs2 million but sold it off in Dubai for Rs22 million,” shesaid.