PESHAWAR, Sep 18(ABC): JUI-F Chief and head of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Sunday once again criticised PTI Chairman Imran Khan and reminded him that only Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has the authority to appoint the next army chief.
Speaking during a meeting of JUI-F’s provincial general council, Fazl — while referring to Khan’s ouster from power in April — said that the PDM had successfully crushed the “fitna”.
“Every time he delivers a speech, he only blows his own trumpet,” the JUI-F chief said as he berated Khan’s government for handing over Indian airforce pilot Abhinandan Varthaman back to his country within 24 hours. Fazl also called out the PTI-led government for “holding the State Bank of Pakistan hostage to the demands of the IMF.”
In response to Khan’s statements regarding the appointment of the army chief and elections in the country, Fazl said. “In the past, Khan used to say that the army chief should be dismissed but now he wants his tenure to be extended. But let us remind him that the army chief will be appointed by PM Shehbaz.”
The PDM chief added that since Khan had been “proven guilty in the foreign funding case,” he has adopted certain tactics to subvert the truth.
“If courts issue a decision against Khan, he calls the judiciary to be wrong. And if the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) gives a verdict against him, then he accuses the body [and the chief election commissioner] of being biased.”
