Former president and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari has claimed that former Army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa threatened him to impose martial law last April if the no-confidence motion against Imran Khan was not withdrawn.
During an interview with private news channel, Asif Ali Zardari said, “When Qamar Javed Bajwa hinted at imposing martial law in the country then we replied to ‘Bismillah’ and asked him to go ahead. We do farming and you should run the country now. However, he stepped back from his stance after our response.”
“Qamar Javed Bajwa had told me that he will take resignation from Imran Khan and you should go to the election phase, however, we [Zardari and Maulana Fazlur Rehman] rejected the offer.”
“When the no-confidence motion came, Gen Bajwa called us and said if you withdraw the no-confidence motion, I will convince Imran Khan to resign.” He said that he and Khalid Magsi responded to Gen Bajwa that they would not retreat and you might impose a marshal.
The former president also claimed that Imran Khan had planned to rule the country till 2035 and he wanted to bring his own army chief.
Zardari further revealed that Gen Faiz and Imran Khan had planned to stay in power till 2035.
“General Faiz Hameed wanted me to go abroad on the medical ground during Imran Khan’s tenure,” he said adding that Bilawal has rightly said that only Imran Khan has been expelled, but his followers are still there in the establishment.
Zardari said that the political situation of Punjab affects the whole country.
“If elections are held in Pakistan on the same day, then it is our constitutional right. We are not raising objections on the elections but the time. All political parties should decide on the schedule of elections at the earliest.”
“We are trying to hold elections in October this year. I cannot comment on our strategy for the next elections.”
Zardari stated that Pakistan was created by their forefathers, and it is their duty to protect it. He asserted that the PPP had fought to restore democracy, which was the dream of Zulfikar Bhutto and other leaders.
Zardari stated that his party had given blood for the country and would continue to do so.
Regarding former US envoy, Zardari said that Zalmay Khalilzad is a ‘paid servant’ and he is apparently hired by a lobby and he is an ‘agent’.
“We are also trying to protect the Constitution of Pakistan. We increased the salaries of judges to motivate good people to come forward. We don’t know that the situation will be turned into a monopoly. Bilawal Bhutto had already said that Imran Khan was expelled but his followers are still here.
Zardari warned that he would not allow anyone to play with the Constitution.
He alleged that Imran Khan paid children to talk about others. “Army’s policy changes after two years.
To a question, Zardari replied that the current opposition should tell the lodging of any false case. “There is a difference in my and Imran Khan’s domicile.” A person having Sindh domicile can also become a prime minister he added.
