Time of appointing new army chief reaches: Rana Sanaullah

ISLAMABAD,  Oct 18 (SABAH): Federal Minister for Interior Rana Sanaullah Khan has said that federal government will not allow former prime minister and Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan to assault and occupy the federal capital besides no compromise will be done on the matter of Red Zone.

Rana Sanaullah said this during an interview with a private TV channel. He said that assault on the State’s buildings located at the Red Zone is tantamount to assault against the State and added responsibility of their security lies with Pakistan Army, all institutions, Pakistanis and all patriots. He said that Imran Khan will not be allowed to do some adventure after arrival at Islamabad. He said, “It is Constitutional prerogative of the prime minister to appoint new army chief and he is bound to act in the light of Constitution and law on the matter. As per Constitution, the prime minister has taken oath that he will not unfold such matters before anyone in the national interest. All others have taken oath. Is Imran Khan not aware of what he did being prime minister.”  

Rana Sanaullah maintained that time of appointment of new army chief reached; however, added Imran Khan has missed vehicle and got delayed in connection with this. “I’m of the view that military and political leadership would be at the brink of making decision in this matter but such issues cannot be unveiled as per oath taken by the prime minister of keeping such issues secret. I think Mian Shehbaz Sharif will abide by his oath. Nawaz Sharif is my leader; however, I think he will not interfere at any cost into this matter,” he said.

The interior minister said if Imran Khan will not respect others then he will be reciprocated in the same way and continued that he trained his followers to pass rude remarks against rivals.  “We, being in the power, are bearing all this but if someone will do the same during the electioneering in the interim setup; we will retaliate him in the harshest possible terms,” Rana Sanaullah warned.

He said, “Imran Khan was of the view that all remain in contact with establishment.  When we were in jails or out of the jails, we had been in contact with establishment. When we will be out of power, we will still maintain our contacts with it.”

Rana Sanaullah said that, “Imran Khan’s claims of being in contact with the establishment might be true but he along with his company cannot be allowed to influence elections at all costs and if he does this; he would be retaliated in the same way. Elections will be conducted according to the Constitution and law. Chairman PTI must come on table…come into the Parliament. Imran Khan will have to respect them if he wishes the same. Imran Khan must try to develop consensus. It is his folly if he thinks elections will be announced in the aftermath of PTI’s sit-ins spanning over one to two months.”

The minister said, “Interim setup will start working after August 06, 2023. If Imran Khan would have not hurled threats of holding long march at May 25; might be caretaker government would have been installed at that time but he deteriorated all the matters. Imran Khan’s deadline is indeed his own deadline which will put at end to his own politics whereas he is heading in the same direction. If he wants to stage long march and he should do this in this continuing month. Long march will be a last nail in his coffin.”

According to reports the long march had a suitable time to be organized during October 12 to October 17 but it was delayed thus now time has gotten out of their hands, he said. To a question, Rana Sanaullah said there was no danger of anarchy in the cities as provincial governments were of PTI and it was their responsibility to stop chaos and not of federal government whereas “we will control them in a better way at Islamabad as per strategy made in this regard.”