Gen Javed Bajwa wanted second time extension: Javed Latif

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) senior leader Javed Latif has said that Gen (reted) Qamar Javed Bajwa “had a dual policy approach and he was in contact with several people within the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) parties.”

During a conversation on the HUM News programme “Upfront with Mona Alam”, Javed Latif said that Gen (retd) Bajwa wanted securing a second extension as the army chief. However, this proposition stood in contrast to the stance of PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, who advocated against extensions for military chiefs.

Reflecting on the PML-N’s previous governance, Latif recounted the party’s stint in a national government endured for a brief span. He reminisced how, in 2013, Pakistan grappled with severe power outages and rampant terrorism.

In a significant turnaround, he said, the PML-N government managed to eradicate load-shedding and curb terrorism.

Talking about the pivotal China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the PML-N leader emphasised its transformative potential for Pakistan’s growth and prosperity. Latif, however, underscored that certain vested interests, who sought to undermine Pakistan’s progress, engaged in concerted efforts to obstruct the corridor’s success.

Turning to the Panama Papers controversy, Javed Latif underscored that despite the presence of 450 names in the Panama Papers, Nawaz Sharif’s name was conspicuously absent from the list. He said that the whole world is saying that Nawaz Sharif’s conviction in the Panama case was a big joke.

Latif delved into the realm of Pakistan’s nuclear tests, highlighting Nawaz Sharif’s pivotal role in conducting these tests, which fortified Pakistan’s defence capabilities.

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Peering into the PDM government’s period in power, Latif disclosed that during the initial eight months of the PDM government’s tenure, the reins of power lay elsewhere, with influential circles wielding considerable control. “This continued until November 2022, casting a shadow over the actual power dynamics within the country,” he said.

He advocated for prompt and transparent elections in Pakistan. Expressing the collective will of his party, he underscored the urgency of returning the authority to the hands of the people through a democratic process.