ISLAMABAD: Senior leader of ex-premier Imran Khan’s party, Chaudhry Fawad Hussain, said on Thursday it was important for political leaders and the public to respect the army but it was equally important for the institution to "bow its head" before the will of the public, which had accepted the former prime minister as the most popular leader in the country.
Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party was responding to remarks to media by Lt Gen Nadeem Anjum, the head of Pakistan’s powerful spy agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), and the spokesman of the Pakistan army, Lt Gen Babar Iftikhar. Both slammed Khan over his criticism of the military, and questioned the ex-premier’s motives behind anti-army remarks and portraying Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa as a “traitor” among his followers.
“No doubt that the respect for the army is most important,” Hussain said at a press conference with other top leaders of the PTI. “But we have to decide on a framework … do we we want to make Pakistan a democratic country or do we want to follow the model of Burma or North Korea?”
“The respect of the Pakistan army is very important but respect for the political leadership of the country is also important. Bowing your head before the will of the people is also important,” the politician said, adding that a majority of people in Pakistan supported Khan, as was evidenced by his victory in two recent by-elections.
Asad Umar, another former PTI leader, said Khan’s criticism of the military was always aimed at strengthening the institution.
“Imran Khan has never said anything out of the desire that the institution becomes weak,” he said.
Shireen Mazari, another PTI leader, said criticizing the army should be allowed.
"Give us the right, which is in the constitution, that we can criticise you. Have the heart to take the criticism," she said in comments directed at the military.
Shah Mahmood Qureshi, former foreign minister and Khan associate, said it was "inappropriate" for army officials to address such a presser, which he said should have been held by government officials.
Gen Anjum’s presser on Thursday afternoon was the first time in Pakistan’s history that the head of the ISI has addressed a media briefing. Anjum was approved as ISI chief in October last year and has since never made any public appearances or comments.
