By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Ousted prime minister Imran Khan on Tuesday defended his remarks on the military leadership as ‘constructive and for its own improvement’, saying “thieves cannot be allowed to appoint the next army chief under any circumstances”.
“New army chief should be appointed on merit. Thieves (referring Nawaz Sharif and Asif Ali Zardari) cannot be allowed to pick the new army chief,” Khan told PTI party supporters at a rally held in Peshawar.
“Those from the PML-N [Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz)] should get this straight that we are the people who would strengthen this country’s institutions. And even if we do criticise our Army, it is for their betterment. What we do is constructive criticism.”
Khan claimed that the coalition government is trying to create misunderstandings between the powerful military and the ‘largest party’ of the country.
“This gang of robbers has realised that they can’t defeat us. The three stooges know that they can’t win by playing the match… So, they are now trying to disqualify me. They have declared me a terrorist in court. But people are now politically aware.”
He said the Pakistan Democratic Movement is trying to pit the PTI against the institutions. “So, their efforts are meant to push PTI against the wall, but listen to me, the more you try to push PTI against the wall, the more I will fight you.”
Earlier this week Khan had accused the government of delaying fresh elections to appoint ‘a new army chief of their own choice’ to protect their alleged corrupt practices. The remarks drew condemnation from the military and the government. The military said the institution was ‘aghast’ at his remarks about the top army leadership.
Khan was removed from office earlier this year by a vote of no-confidence in parliament by the opposition Pakistan Democratic Alliance.
Meanwhile, YouTube users faced service disruption in parts of Pakistan on Tuesday evening, just ahead of Khan the planned political rally in Peshawar, an internet outages tracker said.
NetBlocks said the disruption came despite the Islamabad High Court lifting the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority’s ban on Imran’s speeches.
“NetBlocks recommends against the use of network disruptions and social media restrictions to limit political speech, given their disproportionate impact on fundamental rights including freedom of expression and freedom assembly.”
The PTI and party leaders blamed the government for YouTube.
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