Rana Sanaullah, a prominent leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and former interior minister, has stated that his party’s decision to support the extension of former army chief General (retired) Qamar Javed Bajwa was a strategic move aimed at countering the political challenges posed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan.
During an interview with a private TV channel, he explained that certain decisions, such as supporting Gen Bajwa’s extension in 2020, were made in response to the prevailing circumstances and were part of a larger strategy. He referred to this decision as a tactical maneuver by the PML-N to address the “fitna” or turmoil affecting the nation.
This marks the second consecutive instance in which Sanaullah publicly criticized former military leadership within two days. In a previous statement, he had labeled former generals Bajwa and Faiz Hameed as “national criminals” and called for punitive actions against them.
He had also expressed that the PML-N, similar to how it had pursued legal action against General Musharraf, would do the same concerning these individuals.
Furthermore, another PML-N leader, Khurram Dastgir Khan, attributed the current wave of inflation and high electricity bills to certain former judges of the Supreme Court and ex-military generals.
He contended that the judges responsible for disqualifying Nawaz Sharif in 2017 had adversely impacted Pakistan’s economic stability and democracy. Dastgir Khan also alleged that this group had received support from General Bajwa and General Faiz, resulting in the election of Imran Khan as Prime Minister in 2018.
It’s worth noting that Nawaz Sharif had previously accused General Bajwa of orchestrating his government’s downfall, influencing the judiciary, and facilitating the rise of Imran Khan’s government in the 2018 elections. However, his younger brother and former Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, had expressed appreciation for General Bajwa’s services when bidding him farewell in November 2022.
