According to the the PM, it is the prerogative of the prime minister to decide the matter of the appointment of the army chief. He said this is something that has never been consulted over before and so will be the case in the future.
While talking to a group of YouTubers in Lahore the other day, he revealed that a prominent businessman of the country had approached him with a message from Imran Khan to initiate the talks.
“Now you want the talks?” the premier asked of the messenger before turning down the proposal.
He elaborated that the PTI came forward with three names for the slot and asked for as many from the government, suggesting that the two sides should find common ground on one of them.
Shehbaz said, “My answer was clear; when Imran Khan extended Gen. Bajwa’s term in service in 2019, did he speak with me?”
He added, “Even after jharlu elections in 2018, we used to ask them to sit down for talks on a charter for economy but we were accused of seeking an NRO. Now, all of a sudden, they want a dialogue.”
While responding to a question about the DG ISI’s presser, the premier said he was approached by Lt Gen Nadeem Anjum. “He told me there were some meetings that he was a witness to and DG ISPR wasn’t a part of them, and that he wanted to make the position of the institution clear.”
The PML-N leader further said that if Imran Khan attacked the institution, DG ISI also should have the right to respond. He also refused to remove the chief election commissioner as demanded persistently by Imran Khan citing fair elections. “His is a constitutional role; I can’t and I won’t remove him. He is a qualified officer.”
Shehbaz compared the situation emerging out of PTI’s long march and his forthcoming visit to China with the 2014 planned arrival of Chinese president to initiate CPEC. “The investment had to suffer a delay of seven months.”
During the meeting, the premier spoke about the Tosha Khana case several times, but added that the actual theft was Imran Khan letting go of Rs50 billion in return for a piece of land from Malik Riaz.
He also talked about the ‘super support’ extended to an ineligible Imran Khan by Gen Bajwa. “A 20 percent of such support would have enabled Nawaz Sharif to take the country’s economy to newer heights.”
When asked about the possibility of talks with India, Shehbaz said, “I am ready for trade talks, but see what Modi has been doing in Kashmir. What can we do in such a situation?”