DG ISPR refutes reports of backchannel contacts with Imran Khan

RAWALPINDI: Refuting the claims of talks or backchannel contacts with Imran Khan, ISPR Director General Lt-Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said “the military is not interested in dialogue with political parties.

He expressed these views in an interview recorded to BBC Urdu on May 18, but published on Friday. It was a time when rumours were circulating about Imran, the incarcerated PTI founder, being contacted for a “deal”.

“We have been very clear about it. It is politicians’ job to have dialogue with each other. Please do not drag Pakistan armed forces, Pakistan Army into politics.”

WHO IS THE STATE

During the interview, the military’s media wing chief explained their in detail.

“We talk to the State of Pakistan, which under the Constitution of Pakistan is formed with the political parties. The incumbent government at any time is the State at that time, and the armed forces under that State,” he told the BBC Urdu.

When asked about political interference, Lt-Gen Sharif said the military implement the directions and advices of political government, both federal and provincial.

He added that the army was present in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan for internal security reasons only because of the provincial governments orders.

INCOMPETENCE AND WEAKNESSES

Lt-Gen Sharif was also asked why the military leadership is mentioned whenever there is instability in the country.

His reply was that the question should be asked to those politicians or political groups , which tray to make the army controversial or make this issue the original problem.

In Lt-Gen Sharif’s opinion, the reason behind this attitude is “their incompetence or their weaknesses, which they try to hide – an obvious reference to Imran and his party.

“I won’t comment on their political objectives. We only request that they should keep their politics to themselves and keep the armed forces of Pakistan away from it.”

Meanwhile, the ISPR chief rejected the impression of rift in the army’s ranks over the issue of Imran. He described it as a rumour to promote their [of Imran and PTI] political agendas.