Imran Khan's bullying tactics delayed the general elections in the country

 Former army chief General(r) Qamar Javed Bajwa and PML-N senator Irfan Siddiqui has confirmed that ruling coalition was ready for the early elections in May 2022 

First, former army chief general® Qamar javed Bajwa revealed in his alleged interview with journalist Shahid Maitla that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was ready to resign on May 25 to hold the fresh elections in the country. According to the content of the alleged interview, General Bajwa also confirmed that this message was conveyed to PTI chairman Imran Khan. The establishment also made a request to Imran Khan not to announce the date of long march towards Islamabad which was turned down by Imran Khan.

General Bajwa also revealed that the establishment persuaded PM Shehbaz Sharif and PML-N supreme leader Nawaz Sharif to postpone the resignation of the government till the completion of crucial talks with IMF.

Even though, General Bajwa has denied that he didn’t give any interview to any journalist. Noted TV show host Kamran Shahid shared a tweet, saying Ex-COAS General Bajwa has just shared with me the following statement that he had not given any interview to anybody. “I am not allowed to give any statement, comment or interview till 29 Nov 2024,” the post reads.

As former COAS denied giving any statement in light of the law, journalist Shahid Maitla stands firm on the story he published. Sharing his side, Maitla said it was a conversation that turned into a casual interview, and coined it as ‘journalistic interaction’.

But PML-N senator and prominent columnist, Irfan Siddiqui in an interview to a news channel has confirmed the claims made by former army chief.  Senator Siddiqui has confirmed the content of the alleged interview. Senator Siddiqui has said that “It was also decided that Shehbaz Sharif would resign in May, but the bullying tactics of Imran Khan forced the PDM to revise their plans,” he said. Furthermore, Senator Siddiqui clarified that while 90% of the revelations attributed to General (R) Qamar Javed Bajwa by journalist Shahid Maitla were accurate but the claim that he had written Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s “farewell speech” was false.

Senator Siddiqui shared that Maryam Nawaz, like her father Nawaz Sharif, was also opposed to the continuation of the PDM government after the successful no-confidence motion. In fact, he said on several occasions, Maryam expressed her dissatisfaction with the situation, stating “Why should we carry this basket of filth on our heads.”

Nawaz Sharif made his stance clear that Shehbaz Sharif should resign by May 25 and everything had been settled. “The message was also indirectly conveyed to Imran Khan that the government would be resigning and that election for the four provincial assemblies and the national assembly would be held by September 2022,” he said.

He said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also informed General Bajwa of the decision, and the army conveyed the message to Imran Khan on its own. “Despite being advised by the army that there was no justification for his May 25 long march on Islamabad, Imran Khan announced the long march on May 22 in a press conference in Peshawar,” he said.

Senator Siddiqui said Imran Khan’s aim was to take credit for the new elections by marching on Islamabad and telling the people that he took the date of the new elections by sending the government home. However, he said, when Nawaz Sharif learned of this plan, he stated that there should be no talk of resignation and new elections now, asserting that they would never be bullied by Imran Khan.

“Instead, he challenged Imran Khan to test his strength. From this point on, the situation took a turn,” he said. Senator Irfan Siddiqui said elections were offered to Imran Khan on a plate, opportunity which he squandered due to his stubbornness and bullying. “While Imran Khan now yearns for elections, he will have to wait a bit longer,” he said. Senator Siddiqui said that Imran Khan does not truly want elections, but rather desires chaos and anarchy, which only reflects his lack of wisdom, landing him to his current position.

Imran Khan can only blame himself for the situation he finds himself in. His big ego and bullying tactics forced the government to change its mind to announce fresh elections in the country. He didn’t pay heed to the advice given to him by the establishment and missed the opportunity to hold early elections. Now Imran khan is still pushing for an early elections but government wants to complete its term till 13 August 2023. The elections will likely to take place on October 08, 2023.

                                                                     Khalid Bhatti