Addressing a large crowd in Faisalabad on Sunday, Imran asked why else the coalition government would be scared of holding fresh elections if it wasn't for the appointment of the next chief of army staff. “The second reason is that the new army chief is coming in November. Zardari and Nawaz want to bring their favourite as the next an army chief because they have stolen public money,” he said, adding, “They are afraid that when a patriotic army chief comes, he will ask them about their loot."
Responding to his statements, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif tweeted and said, "He [Imran] is now indulging in direct mud-slinging & poisonous allegations against Armed Forces & its leadership," adding that Imran's 'nefarious agenda' was to disrupt & undermine Pakistan.
https://twitter.com/CMShehbaz/status/1566650344440041474
Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal condemned Imran for 'polluting the political space' and 'pushing the country towards extreme polarisition' while the country is grappling with the worst climate disaster, referring to the ongoing flood crisis.
https://twitter.com/betterpakistan/status/1566594189973921792
Former finance minister Ishaq Dar also commented on the statements and said, "The appointment of the Army Chief is also being viewed through the lens of his dirty politics now. Will this person now decide which chief is a patriot and which one is not?"
https://twitter.com/MIshaqDar50/status/1566464538479820801
Journalist Jan Achakzai termed Imran's statements 'an attack on the army's leadership and integrity'.
https://twitter.com/Jan_Achakzai/status/1566447620423303170
Journalist Tahir Imran also noted that Imran's assertion that certain Generals within the army were not 'patriotic' enough was a very 'strong and dangerous' statement.
https://twitter.com/TahirImran/status/1566449242088128512
https://twitter.com/FrontlineKamran/status/1566482739012026374