Pakistan: Imran Khan says former army chief hired ex-envoy Haqqani to lobby against him

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan on Sunday alleged that ex-envoy Hussain Haqqani was hired by Pakistan's former chief of army General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa to lobby against him, reported The Express Tribune.

The Express Tribune report said: "Khan claimed that the relations between him and the former army chief soured because Bajwa "did not want accountability in the country".

Khan remembered his last meeting with Bajwa. "Bajwa told me that I am a playboy. Yes, I have been a playboy," he said.

Asked about his thoughts on returning to the parliament, Khan said that "there is no benefit" in returning to the National Assembly.

"What will we do by going to the National Assembly, there is no benefit," he said.

"The ex-PM reiterated that transparent elections will bring stability to the country. "Let there be transparent elections in the country and make a sustainable government," the report quoted him.

ALSO READ:

• Pakistan: Assassination bid on Imran Khan well-thought-out conspiracy, says probe team

• Pakistan court reinstates ex-PM Khan's ally sacked to halt snap polls plan

Khan said that the establishment can play an important role in getting the country out of all crises.

"Talking about the ruling coalition filing a vote of no confidence against Punjab Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi, Imran claimed that "the establishment had asked our [PTI's] three members of the Punjab Assembly to remain neutral for the vote of confidence".

Recently, Khan criticised the Pakistan Democratic Movement-led government for "pushing the nation towards terror incidents." He made the remarks during a consultative meeting attended by the party's senior leadership and Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid's leader Moonis Elahi.

"The imposed, corrupt and incompetent rulers are pushing the nation towards (terror) incidents," The News International quoted Imran Khan as saying.

Imran Khan has often criticised Pakistan People's Party co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on national security. His statement regarding terrorism comes at a time when Pakistan is witnessing an increase in terror attacks, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.

"Leaving national security at the mercy of (Asif) Zardari's politically-immature son is criminal stupidity," The News International quoted Khan as saying.

• World
• Pakistan