Gen Bajwa extension: Nawaz Sharif’s return plan in doldrums after Imran Khan’s statement

Imran Khan’s statement regarding the Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa’s extension has put Nawaz Sharif’s plan to return to Pakistan in the doldrums.

Yesterday, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief and former premier Imran Khan played the trump card by showing a willingness to extend the tenure of the Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa until fresh elections.

Imran Khan once again offered the coalition government to negotiate, saying that the decision of the new army should be left to the new government, till then the tenure of General Qamar Javed Bajwa should be extended. Imran Khan has now openly come face-to-face with the government.

He said, “If these people win the election, then appoint the army chief of their choice. How can a fugitive with 85 seats appoint the army chief? Nawaz Sharif and Asif Zardari’s priority is to save money, not merit. will say again and again that Army Chief should be appointed on merit.

Breakthrough Q&A with Imran Khan.Gen Bajwa be given extension till the next elected Govt appoints new COAS; Ready for talks with Govt on elections; Confidence building talks with U.S former PM will join me at DKKKS tonight at 9:30 pic.twitter.com/Eiv4S7Ygej

— Kamran Khan (@AajKamranKhan) September 12, 2022

Khan said, “I always said that the position of the Army Chief is important and there should be a selection on merit. If there is no merit, then we cannot compete with other countries.”

Reacting to the PTI chief’s statement, PML-N central leader and defence minister Khawaja Asif alleged on Twitter that Khan was so desperate to get the rulership and he was now trying to mix the army chief’s appointment with the elections and politics.

Asif said that the incumbent government will fulfil the important responsibility [to decide on army chief’s position] on an appropriate time by keeping in view of the constitutional and institutional traditions. He added that important national decisions could not be taken on conditions of political interests.

عمران خان اقتدار کی ھوس میں اتناdesperateاورگر چکا ھےکہ آرمی چیف کی تقرری کوالیکشن اورسیاست سےنتھی کررہا ھے.انشاءاللہ موجودہ حکومت اس ذمہ داری کو مقررہ وقت پہ آئین اورادارے کی بہترین روایات کو مد نظر رکھتے ہوئے فیصلہ کرے گی.اہم قومی فیصلے سیاسی مفادات سے مشروط نہیں ھوتےانشاءاللہ

— Khawaja M. Asif (@KhawajaMAsif) September 13, 2022

PML-N leader and Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb also reacted to Khan’s statement and said that he [PTI chief] was an ill-natured person who tries to stop the aid to the flood victims, create hurdles in the revival of the IMF loan program and run a venomous social media campaign against the martyrs for his politics.

کبھی سیلاب متاثرین کے لئے امداد رکوانے کی گھٹیا کوشش کرتا ہے
یہ وہی ذہنی بیمار ہے جو اپنی سیاست کے لئے شہدا کے خلاف سوشل میڈیا پر زہریلی مہم چلاتا ہے #توہین_رسالت_کا_مجرم_عمران

— Marriyum Aurangzeb (@Marriyum_A) September 12, 2022

یہ شخص اپنی گھٹیا سیاست کے لئے سیلاب متاثرین کے لئے امداد رکوانا چاہتا ہے
یہ ہے بیمار ذہنیت کہ میں وزیراعظم نہیں ، اس لئے سیلاب متاثرین کی مدد نہ کرو
کبھی آئی ایم ایف پروگرام کی بحالی رکواتا ہے، #توہین_رسالت_کا_مجرم_عمران

— Marriyum Aurangzeb (@Marriyum_A) September 12, 2022

Analysts said that Khan has almost foiled Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) Quaid Nawaz Sharif’s future plans including his expected entry into politics after returning to Pakistan.

They said that some sources hinted at Nawaz Sharif’s plan to extend General Bajwa’s tenure or appoint the new army chief from the same bloc which would strengthen his political party’s rulership. However, Khan’s statement changed the minds of some of his critics in the establishment and they started thinking to back the PTI chief’s statement, analysts added.