Pervaiz Elahi denounces Imran Khan’s comments targeting General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa
ISLAMABAD, Dec 18, (SABAH): Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi on Sunday denounced Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan’s comments targeting former chief of army staff (COAS) General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa.
“I was very offended when Imran Khan spoke against Gen Retd Bajwa,” said Pervaiz Elahi adding that “Bajwa sahib is our benefactor and one should not speak against their benefactors.”
In an interview with a private TV channel, CM Punjab also held that the former army chief has “done a lot” for the PTI chief and “favours should not be forgotten”.
“If there is any further talk against Gen (retd) Bajwa, then my party and I will be the first ones to defend him,” he warned.
“General [retd] Faiz Hamid committed many abuses,” he regretted as he alleged that the former military official had “tried to put us behind bars” and that he was “against us”.
Pervaiz Elahi also revealed that he had taken the matter up with the ex-COAS when he was in office and that Gen (retd) Faiz had then informed that the alleged political persecution had been ordered by Imran Khan.
“Imran Khan wouldn’t even let Moonis [Elahi] sit next to him,” he continued, “but we fully supported Imran Khan despite that”.
“When Imran Khan told us to dissolve the [Punjab] Assembly, then we had agreed straight away,” he added stressing that “we are not against Imran Khan or the PTI, we stand with them; but we cannot bite the hand that feeds us”.
Pervaiz Elahi said that he had urged PTI chief to avoid criticism of Gen (retd) Bajwa during his Saturday’s Liberty Chowk rally speech. “Imran Khan criticised Gen Bajwa in his Lahore speech during my presence which is injustice to me,” he said.
He went on to say that Gen Bajwa frequently helped PTI during its government and criticism of him after his retirement was unfair. CM Elahi said that his party supported PTI in Centre and Punjab despite reservations.
Parvez Elahi said that he and his party will be the first ones to defend General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa if anything further is said against the former army chief.
“I felt very bad when Khan was speaking against Gen (retd) Bajwa,” Parvez said adding that the former army chief was a “benefactor” and nothing should be said against benefactors.
“Gen (retd) Bajwa gave many favours to him [Khan] therefore the favours shouldn’t be forgotten,” the Punjab CM reminded the PTI chief.
He said that they are allies of PTI instead of opponents but they can’t forget the favours of their “benefactors”.
The Punjab chief minister said that Khan did not allow former federal minister Moonis Elahi to sit with him but Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) backed Imran Khan.
“We agreed immediately when Imran Khan asked to dissolve [Punjab] Assembly,” he added. Pervaiz Elahi said that on Saturday he has clearly informed Imran Khan what PTI could offer for PML-Q it should be decided and in this committee comprising Asad Umar, Parvez Khan Khattak and Speaker Punjab Assembly Muhammad Sabtain Khan should be formed.
Pervaiz Elahi said that general Bajwa arranged funds for PTI government, adding that general Bajwa met with Saudi King Salman bin Abdul Aziz and Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman, went to Qatar and did work of IMF while sitting in Belgium. He said that Cheema and his wife should remain in their limits.
It is worth mentioning here that on Saturday, Imran Khan in his address to PTI workers criticised the former army chief (retd) Gen Bajwa saying that he “foresaw the removal of his government” and was aware that some elements wanted to impose Shehbaz Sharif as the prime minister.
The former premier was flanked by Parvez and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa CM Mahmood Khan.
“General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa told me that he did not want this (Shehbaz becoming PM to happen). So who is responsible? Will anyone tell me this? Gen (retd) Bajwa would tell me that the [incumbent rulers] are corrupt.”
But not conceding defeat, Imran said that the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) move to remove him “was in my favour” as I have received “unprecedented respect”.
“Gen (retd) Bajwa thought the PM and Ishaq Dar are geniuses and will manage the country,” the PTI chairman said, adding that the former army chief realised the nation’s support for Khan’s party after toppling the government.
The former prime minister further said that his party’s popularity increased after April, following his ouster from the government due to a no-confidence motion moved by the then-opposition.
“We haven’t seen such cruelty even during Gen (retd) Musharraf’s time after what Gen (retd) Bajwa did to us,” he said.
The former premier added that corruption worth millions of rupees was “forgiven” by the incumbent leaders — and that is why they wanted to cling to power.
The former premier said that he was told about the threat to his life when he was leaving for the march. “Who would put their lives in danger for money or power?” Khan questioned.