LAHORE – Ousted Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan said his government’sdecision to extend former chief of the army staff Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa’sterm in 2019 was a ‘mistake’.
The defiant politician made these remarks during an exclusive interviewwith *Bol News* as he revealed that Gen Bajwa was playing a ‘double game’and he could later identify that even PTI members were being givendifferent messages.
PTI chief added that the retired general used to give different messages tohis party members, admitting he had a strange attitude after the extension.
Responding to a question, Khan said he used to trust whatever Gen Bajwasaid. He continued saying that ‘I would tell him [Gen Bajwa] that both ofus are thinking about Pakistan and our only purpose was to save thecountry,’ adding that he didn’t know how he was being betrayed.
Khan mentioned receiving reports from the Intelligence Bureau about a‘game’, admitting that he was aware for some time about retired officialsand then opposition members.
PTI chief said an extension should not be given at that time, adding thatthe situation was otherwise and he had not many options.
Opposes elections after March
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Sharing his views on upcoming general polls, the former premier said heinvited the ruling coalition to hold talks over the date of generalelections, noting that his party would only wait till March 2023.
if the government is ready to hold elections by the end of March, he wouldnot dissolve Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assemblies, Khan said whilehinting at dissolving assemblies, if Sharif-led government mulled extendingpolls after March.
He cited the worsening economic situation as a key reason behind the demandfor early elections and mentioned that the debt of cash strapped countrywas constantly increasing with every passing day. Rulers run away in theend and it’s the citizens who suffer, he added.
PTI chief also mentioned that Punjab Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi hadpromised to follow his orders, saying the latter has given him the fullauthority to dissolve the assembly whenever I want.
