Saturday, April 2, 2022
Day before Imran’s no-trust vote, Pakistan army chief condemns Ukraine war, cosies up to West
SONIYA AGRAWAL
Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa said Russian invasion of Ukraine ‘must be stopped immediately’, discussed ‘excellent’ relationship with US, in contrast with PM Imran Khan’s anti-West stances.The Russian invasion of Ukraine is a “huge tragedy” and “must be stopped immediately”, said Pakistan Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa Saturday, in a major statement ahead of the no-confidence vote against Prime Minister Imran Khan Sunday. Condemning the war, Bajwa said, “Pakistan has consistently called for an immediate ceasefire and cessation of hostilities. We support immediate dialogue between all sides to find a lasting solution to the conflict.” He also called for all disputes with India, including Kashmir to be settled through dialogue.Bajwa referred to Pakistan’s “long and excellent strategic relationship with the US”, and how the UK and the EU were vital to the country’s interests. This was in stark contrast to statements by PM Khan, whose rhetoric has become increasingly anti-US and anti-EU. Giving a speech in Urdu at the same venue as Bajwa a day before — the Islamabad Security Dialogue, which aims to bring together Pakistani and foreign intelligentsia — Khan claimed that a “powerful country” was upset with his visit to the Kremlin just as Russia launched its campaign against Ukraine on 24 February. He noted that the unnamed country’s ally, India, was continuing to import oil from Russia despite Western sanctions against Moscow, and praised New Delhi’s “independent foreign policy” — in contrast to Islamabad’s failure to “stand on its own two feet”. “Today, I read the British foreign secretary’s statement that they can’t say anything to India as it has an independent foreign policy. I don’t blame them (West) for this support, but what are we then,” he said, referring to UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss’s remarks. Khan had also alleged in an address to the nation Thursday that the US had sent a “threatening” memo as part of a “foreign conspiracy” to topple his government.The contrasting stances of the army chief and the prime minister come in the backdrop of a reported rift between Khan and the military establishment, which had backed his rise to power. The army has maintained an avowedly neutral stance on the no-confidence motion.Reports suggest that differences had developed between Khan and Bajwa over the appointment of a new chief of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) last October. At the same time, a planned address to the nation by Khan Saturday was cancelled, purportedly on orders given by the Pakistan Army. According to diplomats in Islamabad, Bajwa and his ISI deputy advised Khan against addressing the nation as it would “vitiate the atmosphere in the country.” Pakistan’s information minister, Fawad Chaudhary, in a media address on Saturday, denied that the army chief had asked Khan to resign. The no-confidence motion against Khan was tabled in the National Assembly on 28 March by a united opposition with the support of disgruntled legislators from Khan’s own Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). Khan has effectively lost his majority in Parliament after a key partner of the ruling coalition, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), joined hands with the Opposition.
https://theprint.in/world/day-before-imrans-no-trust-vote-pakistan-army-chief-condemns-ukraine-war-cosies-up-to-west/899570/
We will 'imprison Bani Gala's devil' tomorrow, Bilawal Bhutto takes a snipe at PM Imran Khan
- "Stop whining, these childish acts will not work now," Bilawal tells PM.
- He says will ask Shahbaz to not take revenge from Imran Khan.
- "If you incite violence, we will not spare you," Bilawal warns PM.
The joint Opposition will "imprison Bani Gala's devil" tomorrow by voting him out of office, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said Saturday taking a snipe at Prime Minister Imran Khan after the Ramadan moon was sighted in Pakistan.
In a press conference alongside PPP leaders, Bilawal said the Opposition would start its bid to resolve the problems of the people after it gets rid of the prime minister following the voting on the no-confidence motion against the premier.
The PTI effectively lost its majority in the 342-member National Assembly Wednesday when a coalition partner — MQM-P — said its seven lawmakers would vote in support of the Opposition alliance. Before them, several other allies had switched sides.
"He is a person who has lost and now will try to cause unrest outside the parliament [...] this is a very serious issue as the parliament represents the people," the PPP chairman said after PM Imran Khan called on the youth to protest for two days — today and tomorrow — against the "foreign conspiracy" targeting his government.
The Islamabad district administration has imposed section-144 in the Red Zone, banning rallies and gatherings in the area. The administration said anyone found in violation of the restrictions would face action.
The PPP chairman, referring to PM Imran Khan's call for "peaceful protests", said the prime minister should neither interfere nor opt for illegal tactics to stay in power.
Bilawal calls on SC
The lawmaker from Larakan called on the Supreme Court to take action against the premier for calling on his supporters to protest and warned that if the parliament's affairs were meddled with, then other institutions, including the courts, would face similar issues.
"No one should be allowed to play with the country's democracy and future," the PPP chairman said, assuring that his party was "well-aware" of how to protect his members and take them safely to the parliament.
Bilawal said the Opposition had already shown its majority in the National Assembly and only the paperwork remains.
'Absolutely not'
Bilawal called on the prime minister to step down voluntarily and show sportsmanship. "Stop whining, these childish acts will not work now," he said, referring to the premier's allegations of a foreign power's bid to oust his government.
The PPP chairman said lawmakers from the treasury benches approached Opposition leaders and begged them to take back the no-confidence motion against the premier.
"Our response to them was: absolutely not," he said.
Convincing Shahbaz against political revenge
Moving on, Bilawal said he would ask Shahbaz Sharif — once he becomes the new prime minister — to not launch a political vendetta against the prime minister.
"But if you incite violence and opt for an unconstitutional way, we will not spare you and use Article 6 against you," Bilawal warned PM Imran Khan.
بار بار وزیراعظم کو کہا عزت کا راستہ اپنایا جائے، بلاول بھٹو زرداری
پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی ( پی پی پی) کے چیئرمین بلاول بھٹو زرداری نے کہا ہے کہ ہم نے تو بار بار وزیراعظم کو کہا کہ عزت کا راستہ اپنایاجائے، وزیراعظم کو کہا کہ استعفیٰ دینا چاہیے تھا۔
اسلام آباد میں پریس کانفرنس کرتے ہوئے بلاول بھٹو زرداری نے کہا کہ رمضان میں شیطان بند کردیا جاتا ہے، ہم شیطان کو بند کرنے جارہے ہیں، کل بنی گالا کا شیطان قید ہونے جا رہا ہے، کل سے ہم آپ کے مسائل کے حل کا آغاز کریں گے۔
بلاول بھٹو زرداری نے تمام پاکستانیوں کو رمضان المبارک کی مبارک باد بھی دی۔
چیئرمین پیپلز پارٹی نے کہا کہ یہ ہارا ہوا شخص کوشش کرے گا کہ بدامنی ہو، تصادم ہو، یہ ہاراہوا شخص کوشش کرے گا کہ پارلیمنٹ میں تشدد ہو۔
بلاول بھٹو نے کہا کہ یہ بہت ہی سنگین معاملہ ہے، پارلیمنٹ ملک کےعوام کی نمائندگی کرتا ہے۔
انہوں نے کہا کہ آج وزیر اعظم کو جمہوری طریقے سے نکال رہے ہیں تو رکاوٹیں نہیں ڈالنی چاہییں، پارلیمنٹ کے ساتھ اور بھی قومی ادارے ہیں، ہر ادارے کے اپنے اصول ہیں، سپریم کورٹ کےبھی اپنے اصول ہیں کہ اس کےججز کیسے چنے جاتے ہیں۔
بلاول بھٹو نے کہا کہ تحریک انصاف کا وزیر اعظم ٹی وی پر آکر احتجاج کی کال دے رہا ہے۔
پی پی چیئرمین نے کہا کہ پارلیمنٹ کےطریقہ کار پر اعتراض ہوگا تو کل دوسرے اداروں کےطریقہ کار بھی متاثر ہوں گے، سپریم کورٹ کو نوٹس لینا چاہیے، کسی کواجازت نہیں دینا چاہیےکہ ملک کی جمہوریت اور قسمت کے ساتھ کھیل کھیلاجائے۔
انہوں نے کہا کہ ہم جانتےہیں اپنے لوگوں کا کیسے تحفظ کرنا ہے اور انہیں کیسے پہنچانا ہے، وزیر اعظم اپنے غنڈوں کے ذریعے ہنگامہ آرائی کرنا چاہتے ہیں، وزیر اعلیٰ کے پی کے اور وزیر دفاع کے بیانات سامنے آچکے ہیں۔
بلاول بھٹو نے کہا کہ سپریم کورٹ کو اپنا آئینی کردار ادا کرنا ہوگا، ہم نے اپنی اکثریت دکھا دی، کل صرف کاغذی کارروائی باقی ہے۔