ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan today (Saturday) has asserted that he would resist the army if they exerted pressure on me, saying that his government was in charge of the country’s foreign policy.
He expressed his views during an interview by a private news channel, in which he spoke on various issues and also took aim at the Opposition leadership.
“The army hasn’t directed me to do one thing which I did not want to do. The entire foreign policy being implemented today is mine, you can check with the PTI’s manifesto,” he claimed.
The Prime Minister further said, “There was pressure on us to take a side in a conflict of any Muslim countries, we said we would remain neutral and play our role in uniting Muslim countries instead.”
Talking about PTI general-secretary Jahangir Tareen, PM Imran said that Tareen was going through ‘difficult times’ but said that he would not interfere in the sugar inquiry investigation.
“Jahangir Tareen has been really close to us in the past, we have worked together in the past closely,” he said. “Tareen says he is innocent. The investigation is going on, I will not interfere in matters of institutions,” he asserted.
PM Imran Khan said that under his government, an inquiry against the sugar cartel was launched for the first time in Pakistan’s history. “An FIR had also been registered against Tareen,” he informed.
Referring to former SAPM on information Lt Gen (retired) Asim Saleem Bajwa, the premier said that he was appointed as CPEC chairman based on his credentials, opposing any pressure from the army.
“He had served in the past as the Commander Southern Command in Balochistan and had also worked closely with the Chinese,” said PM Imran Khan. “Lt Gen (retired) Bajwa had worked as the DG ISPR in the past as well and had the much-needed experience for the job,” he opined.
When asked if Lt Gen (retired) Bajwa is not guilty of corruption, the premier said, “I cannot say this because it is not my job. However, I will say that he gave a very detailed answer to the allegations against him.”
PM Imran further said these were mere allegations and if anyone had any problems with it, the person should file a case against the retired army officer in NAB. Responding to a ‘selected’ prime minister, PM Imran said that he couldn’t understand their criticism at him.
He said that PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was the leader of his party because he had shown a piece of paper (in reference to Benazir Bhutto’s will) and Maryam Nawaz was leading the PML-N because she was Nawaz Sharif’s daughter.
“And they make these allegations against a man who has struggled in politics for the past 22 years,” said the prime minister, referring to himself. “Nawaz Sharif threw Asif Zardari in jail,” he said. “Our government only made cases against Shahbaz Sharif.”
