ISLAMABAD: PTI founder Imran Khan has said that his only regret from his time in power was trusting former army chief General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa, whom he held responsible for “creating lies and false narratives”, allegedly to secure a second extension as the military head.
The former premier, who is currently incarcerated at Adiala Jail in a string of cases against him, blasted Pakistan’s political and military leaders — with a special focus on his friend-turned-foe Gen Bajwa — in an interview with journalist Mehdi Hasan for Zeteo that was published on Wednesday.
The interview was conducted through a letter Mehdi sent with questions for Imran, and the journalist was not allowed to ask follow-up questions.
When asked who he blames for his imprisonment, Imran said: “I am certain that this ordeal was orchestrated by General Bajwa. I hold no one else responsible.
“He meticulously planned and executed this scheme, presenting himself as a deceitful figure, creating lies and false narratives to cause national and international chaos — all to secure his extension.
In 2019, Imran, who was prime minister at the time, approved an extension for Gen Bajwa for another three years, barely three months before the army chief was set to retire. However, in a 2022 interview with Bol News, Imran said he committed a mistake by granting the extension.
“He (Bajwa) utterly failed to grasp the detrimental impact of his actions on democracy and Pakistan,” Imran said in his interview with Mehdi.
When asked whether he still believed the administration of US President Joe Biden was involved in a coup to remove him from office, Imran put the blame firmly and solely on ex-chief of army staff Bajwa.
“General Bajwa single-handedly spread stories about me to countries like the US, painting me as anti-American or uninterested in good relations with them,” he said.
“His insatiable thirst for power rendered him unpredictable,” Imran said, adding that “[Gen Bajwa’s] personal greed turned him into a bull in a china shop.”
The PTI founder stated that he has consistently fought for the rule of law in Pakistan, adding that if justice were served equally, there would be no need for someone like him in the country’s politics.
He also said he has maintained good relations with most countries, especially after his government was toppled. His comments came in response to Mehdi’s statement that he was left with no friends, had a falling out with Saudi Arabia and “went to war with Pakistani generals and politicians”.
