Former prime minister and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) senior leader Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani on Monday said that the process of appointing the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) is pretty simple.
While speaking at a press conference along with Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Gillani said, “They (PTI and Imran Khan) have complicated this matter. Imran Khan does not need to worry about the [army chief’s appointment],” the ex-premier said.
“Imran Khan should not be speaking about the appointment in his rallies […] and who is he even to speak about it in the first place?” he asked.
The PTI chief has been repeatedly targeting state institutions and asking them to hold the “thieves” in the government accountable. He has also made statements pertaining to the army chief’s appointment.
Gillani — talking about the foreign funding case — mentioned that the PTI chairman has “hidden” several assets from the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
“The one (Khan) who had been calling everyone a thief should reflect on his own deeds,” Gillani added.
The case Gillani was referring to is related to foreign funding for Khan’s PTI, which an inquiry by an election tribunal has found unlawful.
Speaking on the occasion, Maulana Fazlur Rehman called PTI Chairman Imran Khan a “lunatic” and stressed that the former premier wasn’t “worthy” of dialogue.
Fazl said that after a long struggle, people were able to get rid of Khan, and the “aftershocks” that the nation is feeling are because of his removal.
“People should join hands and help the government in holding this fitna (anarchist) accountable. We should not be giving him importance,” the PDM chief appealed to the masses.
Fazl added that the Khan was not worthy of dialogue as he disapproved of the idea of negotiating with the PTI — which terms the incumbent government “imported”.
On the appointment of the next army chief, Fazl said that it will be the decision of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. “Who is Khan to give us advice?” the PDM chief asked.
