In what is the first acknowledgment of tensions between Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and the all-powerful army apparatus, Pakistan's former interior minister Sheikh Rashid acknowledged that there were tensions between army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa and Khan. Rashid, head of his Awami Muslim League (AML), had been a vocal supporter of Khan as his minister and ally, and talked about the "misunderstandings" of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) with the military establishment in the wake of his ouster.
The powerful army, which has ruled Pakistan for more than half of its 73 plus years of existence, has hitherto wielded considerable power in the matters of security and foreign policy. Earlier this month, they distanced themselves from the brewing political situation in the country, saying it has nothing to do with politics.
Media reports had emerged of a power clash between Khan and Bajwa just ahead of the former's ouster. Khan had allegedly made a botched attempt to replace Pakistan army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa in order to bring someone more pliant and sympathetic to his idea of foreign conspiracy and cling on to power. However, Khan had claimed, in a meeting with a group of his favourite journalists, that there was no truth in the rumour that he was trying to replace the army chief.
After his ouster, a campaign on social media against the armed forces and its leadership was quite active, and slogans critical of the army were also chanted during protests on Sunday following the successful no-confidence motion. No slogan should be raised against the army," he said ahead of a key PTI rally in Peshawar, which will be addressed by Khan. He said that PTI should follow the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, which was critical of the army but make peace to come to power.
The new premier Shehbaz Sharif had also earlier claimed that Khan had deliberately delayed the extension of army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa’s tenure in 2019—to taint the process in “controversy”.
