Imran Khan's anti-army statement sparks tensions in Pakistan
Nasir Kazmi
Press TV, Islamabad
Khan, who was deposed by a legislative no-confidence vote in April, has been staging massive rallies of his party supporters nationwide to press for early general elections, saying that his government was overthrown through a conspiracy hatched by the United States.
As per the law in the country’s constitution, Pakistan’s prime minister has the authority to appoint the new Army chief.
Pakistan’s powerful military chief General Qamar Bajwa is scheduled to complete his term in mid-November.
The prime minister has to pick the new military head for the next three years from a list of generals submitted by the outgoing chief.
While terming Khan’s statement as unfortunate and disappointing, both the coalition government and the powerful military have denounced the charges labeled by the former prime minister.
The government says that a “long legal battle” would be initiated against Imran Khan very soon.
While chairing a cabinet meeting to discuss a future strategy on Imran Khan’s statements, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said those trying to draw a wedge between the masses and armed forces of the country are not loyal to Pakistan.
Imran Khan is not the only political leader who has blamed the military establishment for interfering in political matters. But given Khan's popularity, the military is not taking his criticism lightly.
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