Establishment’s neutrality
A defiant Premier Imran Khan is not ready to resign despite losing the majority and insists that he will play till the last ball and face the vote of no-confidence in the National Assembly which will decide where the country will go.
Premier Imran Khan has discussed a ‘threat letter’ and termed it as part of a foreign conspiracy to remove him as he was not acceptable for following an independent foreign policy.
He named the US as the country behind the letter gate and not slip of the tongue. Earlier the proceedings of the National Assembly of Pakistan were adjourned till April 3 soon after it convened on Thursday to discuss the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan.
The crucial session for the no-confidence motion started after much delay but adjourned till April 3, after members of Parliament demanded voting on the no-trust motion.
The session was held with more than 172 members from the Opposition benches in attendance.
Ali Wazir’s production order after PTM approaches court are issued. Imran Khan, reduced to a minority in the Assembly and fighting to remain in power, refused to resign and alleged that there is a foreign conspiracy working against his government with the collaboration of three ‘stooges’ Nawaz Sharif, Asif Zardari and Molana Fazazlur Rehman.
There are enemies inside the country who are cooperating with them. Imran Khan, who has virtually lost majority in the 342-member National Assembly after defection of the key allies.
“We are getting messages from some foreign countries. They say that they will forgive Pakistan if Imran Khan goes,” he said, amid a buzz about backdoor efforts to reach a deal between the Premier and the joint opposition to dissolve the lower house. He would wait and see who all sell their souls.
Are these people selling themselves, selling the country and its sovereignty? People are not going to forgive or forget their representatives.
They would always remember those who sold the country. A lot of people said that the letter was fake. Imran Khan showed it to the cabinet, Parliament, senior journalists.
Were there more dangerous things in it, the things Khan haven’t told mediamen about?
This Sunday there will be a decision if the country will go for Imran Khan or the Opposition stalwarts.
Imran Khan admits that his people have run away and he cannot run the government with these people even if the no-confidence motion against him is defeated.
In fact, it would be better for Pakistan if fresh elections are held. Imran Khan has urged MNAs to vote in his favour. He believes that those sold outs still have time to save their future.
After Imran’s removal will the opposition be able to run the country? The Prime Minister has refused to step down, or hold talks with Shehbaz Sharif.
Can Imran win a heavy majority if fresh elections are held as PTI has won more than half the seats in the local bodies elections in KP?
Imran Khan will have to go to the people and seek mandate. Khan will approach the Supreme Court over the foreign-funding case. After removal from power he will have to face cases against him.
The Premier first learnt about the foreign conspiracy against him in August 2021 when Nawaz Sharif was meeting people in London.
Imran Khan claimed that the opposition was being used by foreign powers and after coming to power it would end corruption cases and restore Nawaz Sharif to power.
Let us see what happens in the near future. Khan blamed that Musharraf committed high treason not by holding the Constitution in abeyance but by giving NRO to PML-N and PPP leaders.
After having meeting with the Opposition, Establishment has given Imran Khan three options: face the vote of no-confidence, step down as the premier, or call fresh elections.
As an option the Prime Minister cannot dissolve the National Assembly as the no-confidence motion has already been tabled against him.
So two options are left: tender resignation or face no confidence motion. It is evident that in either way Imran Khan will have to go.
For the first time, Imran has spoken on the October 2021 controversy over the appointment of the DG ISI, when the notification of the new DG was delayed for several days.
The Prime Minister still claims that he holds a big surprise up his sleeves and will reveal it on April 3, when the National Assembly holds a vote on the no-trust motion against him.
The controversy over the delayed appointment of new DG ISI in October 2021 created rift between Imran Khan and the military because he wanted to retain the then existing DG ISI General Faiz Hameed.
He wanted to retain Faiz until the winter. The army has its own system of transfers and postings.
The establishment was thinking from a different perspective and he was looking at it differently.
The appointment of new army chief also remained critical. It is known that he wanted to de-notify General Qamar Javed Bajwa.
Was he thinking about November — a veiled reference to the appointment of a new army chief. The current COAS will complete his term in November.
In the political matters of the country the neutrality of the Establishment will be commended across the board. The politicians need to get hold of the political situation before it is too late.
—The writer is editor, book ambassador, political analyst and author of several books based in Islamabad.
