Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman and former premier Imran Khan has said that everything happening in the country is being decided and commanded by the army chief.
While giving an interview to Voice of America, he said whatever the army chief says is followed. "The establishment is making all the decisions for the country; by the establishment, I mean one man, and that one man is the army chief," he added.
He further said everyone knows the incumbent government is totally dependent on the establishment, and nothing can happen without their consent. He said that the government has no legitimacy or moral authority to run this country, adding that 60 percent of the ruling politicians are on bail in corruption cases filed against them. Just because of the establishment, they (the ruling coalition) are in power despite corruption charges against them, he added.
On February 16, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman and former premier Imran Khan wrote a letter to President Arif Alvi urging the initiation of an immediate inquiry against Gen Bajwa, the former army chief, for alleged violations of oath.
In a letter dated February 14, Imran Khan mentioned four ways in which the former army chief allegedly violated the Constitution. “Some very disturbing information has now come into the public domain whereby it is clear that Gen Bajwa as COAS violated his oath of office repeatedly. In view of these violations, I would request you as Supreme Commander of Armed Forces to institute an immediate inquiry against Gen Bajwa,” read the letter.
“He has admitted to journalist Javed Ch that “we” (and it would be critical to ascertain from him who was the “we” in reference to) considered Imran Khan dangerous to the country if he continued to stay in power. The question that arises is who gave him the power to decide that an elected PM was supposedly a “danger to the country if he continued to stay in power”. Only the people through elections can decide who they want to elect as PM. Taking such a right on himself is in clear violation of his oath as given in Third Schedule Article 244 of the Constitution,” read the letter.
“Regardless of the merits of his claims in this case, he has also admitted he managed to get NAB case against Shaukat Tarin dismissed revealing that NAB was under his control – again a clear violation of the Constitutional oath because the army itself is a department under the Ministry of Defence and civilian official autonomous institutions do not come military control,” read the letter.
“According to a Vlog of a Pakistani journalist Aftab Iqbal Gen Bajwa told him in conversation that he had tapes of then PM Imran Khan’s conversations with him. This is a serious violation again of his oath and a violation of fundamental human rights. The question is why and under what authorization was Gen Bajwa recording confidential conversations?” read the letter.
“Another serious violation of his oath was committed when General Bajwa publicly went against the then government’s policy of maintaining neutrality in the Russia-Ukraine war. He did this at an international conference in Islamabad on 2 April 2022 – the Islamabad Security Conference. I would like to point out that the govt policy was arrived at after developing a consensus of all stakeholders including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and retired diplomats who had the relevant experience and were area specialists,” read the letter.
“I would also point out that Chapter II of the Constitution describes the mandate of the Armed Forces and specifically refers to Articles 243 and 244. Therefore it is your Constitutional duty as President and as Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces to take immediate action and institute an inquiry so as to establish whether such grave violations of the Constitution and oath of Office under the Constitution have taken place,” read the letter.
While giving an interview to Voice of America, he said whatever the army chief says is followed. "The establishment is making all the decisions for the country; by the establishment, I mean one man, and that one man is the army chief," he added.
He further said everyone knows the incumbent government is totally dependent on the establishment, and nothing can happen without their consent. He said that the government has no legitimacy or moral authority to run this country, adding that 60 percent of the ruling politicians are on bail in corruption cases filed against them. Just because of the establishment, they (the ruling coalition) are in power despite corruption charges against them, he added.
On February 16, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman and former premier Imran Khan wrote a letter to President Arif Alvi urging the initiation of an immediate inquiry against Gen Bajwa, the former army chief, for alleged violations of oath.
In a letter dated February 14, Imran Khan mentioned four ways in which the former army chief allegedly violated the Constitution. “Some very disturbing information has now come into the public domain whereby it is clear that Gen Bajwa as COAS violated his oath of office repeatedly. In view of these violations, I would request you as Supreme Commander of Armed Forces to institute an immediate inquiry against Gen Bajwa,” read the letter.
“He has admitted to journalist Javed Ch that “we” (and it would be critical to ascertain from him who was the “we” in reference to) considered Imran Khan dangerous to the country if he continued to stay in power. The question that arises is who gave him the power to decide that an elected PM was supposedly a “danger to the country if he continued to stay in power”. Only the people through elections can decide who they want to elect as PM. Taking such a right on himself is in clear violation of his oath as given in Third Schedule Article 244 of the Constitution,” read the letter.
“Regardless of the merits of his claims in this case, he has also admitted he managed to get NAB case against Shaukat Tarin dismissed revealing that NAB was under his control – again a clear violation of the Constitutional oath because the army itself is a department under the Ministry of Defence and civilian official autonomous institutions do not come military control,” read the letter.
“According to a Vlog of a Pakistani journalist Aftab Iqbal Gen Bajwa told him in conversation that he had tapes of then PM Imran Khan’s conversations with him. This is a serious violation again of his oath and a violation of fundamental human rights. The question is why and under what authorization was Gen Bajwa recording confidential conversations?” read the letter.
“Another serious violation of his oath was committed when General Bajwa publicly went against the then government’s policy of maintaining neutrality in the Russia-Ukraine war. He did this at an international conference in Islamabad on 2 April 2022 – the Islamabad Security Conference. I would like to point out that the govt policy was arrived at after developing a consensus of all stakeholders including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and retired diplomats who had the relevant experience and were area specialists,” read the letter.
“I would also point out that Chapter II of the Constitution describes the mandate of the Armed Forces and specifically refers to Articles 243 and 244. Therefore it is your Constitutional duty as President and as Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces to take immediate action and institute an inquiry so as to establish whether such grave violations of the Constitution and oath of Office under the Constitution have taken place,” read the letter.