‘Bajwa, Imran didn’t want to see Asim Munir as army chief’

ISLAMABAD: Imran Khan – the founding PTI chairman – was also part of the efforts made by the then army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa to stop the appointment of now Field Marshal Asim Munir as the Chief of Army Staff, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said.

He was expressing his views in Hum News programme “Faisla Aap Ka” hosted by Asma Shirazi on Tuesday.

According to Khawaja Asif, the comments passed by Gen (retd) Bajwa, if shared, would shock everyone. He had himself talked to the then army chief on the issue.

He said the decision to elevate Chief of Army Staff Gen Asim Munir as Field Marshal was a historic decision. The achievements of the incumbent services chiefs had no parallel in the past, the defence minister said.

Khawaja Asif was talking about their success in thwarting the Indian aggression, which shattered Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s dream of making his country global and regional cop.    

He said Gen (retd) Bajwa wanted extension of his tenure and had sent an individual repeatedly [to London where three-time former prime minister Nawaz Sharif was staying at that time].

That person [emissary] was a candidate for prime minister, Khawaja added – a possible reference to senior politician Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, who has formed a new party Awaam Pakistan.    

After his failure to get the desired goal, he had suggested four/ five options for the appointment as the army chief, the defence minister added.

Khawaja Asif told Asma Shirazi that he would write a book, containing a chapter on the subject. There had been so many “dramas”, which could help developing a movie [political thriller], he said.

NO NEED TO CONTACT IMRAN

He also discussed the recent speculations about the establishment contacting the incarcerated PTI founding chairman.

Khawaja Asif also questioned the need of consulting Imran and said he had no information about any meeting in Adiala jail, where he is currently housed.

He could not see any [need or possibility] of contacting Imran, said the defence minister.

TOO MANY FACES OF PTI

The defence minister said Leader of the Opposition Omar Ayub had recently claimed how Pakistan would fight a war in the absence of petrol and ammunition.

However, the entire world saw the way Pakistan dealt with the war, he remarked.

He was referring to a recent statement of Ayub, who had made unsubstantiated claims about the military resources and policies of Pakistan.