ISLAMABAD – Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Monday that former chief ofarmy staff (COAS) Gen (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa was the benefactor ofPakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan.
Addressing a press conference alongside federal cabinet members, the primeminister said that Gen (r) Qamar Javed Bajwa was the benefactor of ImranKhan, but the former prime minister turned against the former army chief.
Answering a question about the former army chief, Shehbaz Sharif said thatsince General (retired) Qamar Javed Bajwa has hung up his boots, he shouldbe allowed to live in peace.
PM Shehbaz Sharif hoped that the new COAS General Asim Munir wouldstrengthen the institution according to the constitution and law.
Shehbaz said PTI Chairman Imran Khan and his “minions” took a “heartless”approach in the Daily Mail case.
He noted that the unconditional apology by the Daily Mail was a vindicationof the 220 million of Pakistan which also thwarted an anti-state conspiracyhatched by Imran Khan and his ‘cronies’.
The British publication also removed the article — “Did the family ofPakistani politician who has become the poster boy for British overseas aidSTEAL funds meant for earthquake victims, asks David Rose” — written byDavid Rose from all platforms of Mail publishers.
“They thought that if this damaged Pakistan’s reputation, it won’t matter.They wanted to embarrass the Sharif family no matter what,” the primeminister said.
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PM Shehbaz said from 2008-2018, the United Kingdom’s Department forInternational Development (DFID) provided 600 million pounds to Pakistanfor flood affectees — and most of that amount was given to Punjab.
“That amount was spent in a transparent manner. They aimed to prove thatShehbaz’s children laundered millions of rupees abroad. This is a part ofthe article.”
PM Shehbaz Sharif said despite the passage of three years, Shahzad Akbarfailed to produce documents to substantiate his allegations which also ledto his vindication by the NCA.
On the contrary, PM Shehbaz said Imran sold the watch that Saudi CrownPrince Muhammad Bin Salman had gifted him when he was the prime minister.“This was a cheap move that Imran made by selling a watch that containedthe image of Holy Kaaba,” he added.
“I do not use the word ‘fraud’, but this is what Imran did. The shop owner— whose receipts that PTI showed relating to the watch — has also clarifiedthat it is not his handwriting on the receipt,” PM Shehbaz said.
The prime minister called for “introspection” to understand how did such aperson rule Pakistan, who did not only commit “fraud”, but hurt Pakistan ontwo important fronts — foreign policy and economy.
