Former Army Chief, retired General Qamar Javed Bajwa, and former Director-General of ISI, retired Lieutenant Before making any judgments, it would be helpful to constructively evaluate Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s statement, and General Faiz Hamid’s doubt can be useful in this process.
According to close sources of the former Army Chief and former DG ISI, they have raised doubts about Maulana’s statement, stating that JUI-F leader should first get his facts right. General Faiz Hamid initiated the no-confidence movement several months ago, long before leaving the ISI.
They mentioned that Maulana has forgotten that when the no-confidence movement against Imran Khan was initiated, General Faiz was the Commander in Peshawar. They further stated that General Faiz left Islamabad in November 2021.
A source close to General Bajwa stated that the former Army Chief had two meetings with Maulana. One meeting took place when Maulana went to the then Army Chief’s residence during the time when Maulana was leading the long march against Imran Khan. It is said that this meeting was unpleasant.
The second meeting between General Bajwa and Maulana Fazlur Rehman took place on March 26, 2022, in the presence of several other opposition leaders, including Shehbaz Sharif, Bilawal Bhutto, Akhtar Mengal, Shahzain Bugti, and Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui. An important general was also present in the meeting.
Sources mentioned that both generals had a meeting with opposition leaders on the directives of Prime Minister Imran Khan at that time because they wanted the no-confidence movement against him to be withdrawn.
General Bajwa’s close sources stated that both generals exerted pressure on opposition leaders, urging them to let Imran Khan complete his term. They conveyed to the opposition leaders that if they did not show any flexibility, the no-confidence movement would be withdrawn, and in return, Imran Khan would announce elections.
It is said that both generals discussed various options with the Prime Minister at that time, and different options were discussed in the presence of various ministers. In that meeting, it was communicated to the opposition leaders to contact them so that the government could be saved from the no-confidence movement.
The sources stated that when the opposition leaders did not show any flexibility, they were told to withdraw the no-confidence movement, and in return, Imran Khan would announce elections.
It is said that at that time, both generals were requested by the then Prime Minister Imran Khan to discuss options with the opposition leaders and find a way to save the government from the no-confidence motion.
The sources stated that General Bajwa’s close sources said that they are ready to counter Maulana’s statement in a constitutional manner and expect that Maulana will also make a constitutional statement about this matter so that the truth can come out.