PML-N, PPP want favourite COAS to escape graft cases: Imran
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LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Sunday lashed out at the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) — major coalition partners in the incumbent government — saying both parties were opposing snap elections, because they wanted to “appoint an army chief of their choice” in November to save their skin in corruption cases.
Addressing a rally in Faisalabad, the former prime minister said PPP leader Asif Ali Zardari and PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif were making all-out efforts to bring their “favourite” army chief after the retirement of the incumbent chief in November this year. The new army chief should be chosen on merit, he said, adding Mr Zardari and Mr Sharif were “traitors” and should not be trusted with the fate of the country.
“They want to bring their own army chief…they are afraid that if a strong and patriotic army chief is appointed then he would ask them about the looted wealth,” Mr Khan said, adding that the PPP and PML-N chiefs were sticking to the power because of the fear of accountability.
Read: Who will be the next army chief?
“They are sitting [in the government] because they want to bring in an army chief of their choice through joint efforts,” he added. Imran Khan said the army chief should be “appointed on merit…whoever is on the top of the merit list should be appointed” to head the institution.
Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, who was appointed in 2016, is set to retire in the last week of November. The army chief’s appointment is meant to be for three years, but Gen Bajwa was given an additional three-year term in 2019 after a bit of political drama.
Imran Khan further said the opposition leaders were afraid of holding snap elections because they know they will be wiped out from political arena when elections are held in the country.
He also bashed the coalition government over the state of the economy and quoted a report by the International Monetary Fund which, according to Mr Khan, had warned of unrest in Pakistan due to precarious economic situation. He added that early general elections were the only option to bring political and economic stability in the country.
Published in Dawn, September 5th, 2022
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Comments (99) Closed
Sep 05, 2022 08:19am
If Faiz hameed is not appointed then it is not neutral COAS. Only what I think is neutral: Imran Khan
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Sep 05, 2022 08:21am
This is out of mind completely,
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Sep 05, 2022 08:25am
PPP and PMLN have always stabbed the state institutions in the past. They are famous for leaks and memo gate scandals. Nation cannot trust them when it comes to an important institution that provides the defense of the country. Thank you Imran Khan for the grim reminder from the past.
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Sep 05, 2022 08:29am
We love this guy, and he should become PM again. If IK becomes PM one more time, he will finish his "destroy Pakistan" effort single handedly.
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Sep 05, 2022 08:31am
So what should the government do, bring in Imran Khan's favourite general as Army Chief? It is the prerogative of the sitting PM whosoever he appoints from among the top contenders. By merit Imran Khan simply means a general who would immediately throw out the sitting government and also bring him back into power. For Imran Khan merit is only his own opportunity to climb back to power.
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Sep 05, 2022 08:31am
Does Imran Khan is saying that present army chief is not strong and patriotic
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Sep 05, 2022 08:34am
This is totally ridiculous. Army is loyal to the state and not the Prime Minister. He has totally lost his mind.
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Sep 05, 2022 08:34am
Does Imran think before he speaks ?
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Sep 05, 2022 08:35am
Please do some favour to flood victims and keep your greed to power for some time.
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Sep 05, 2022 08:37am
@Justice,
How much you "want" Imran Khan is known to all and refleced from the obsession on display here.
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Sep 05, 2022 08:43am
cat is now out of the the bag. He was planning to select his favorite chief to crush opposition.
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Sep 05, 2022 08:44am
IK is 100 right. Great visionary leader. All the best IK
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Sep 05, 2022 08:44am
In the past, ruling political parties have been appointing chief of army staff irrespective of their seniority. It is good to bring it in public notice so that army chiefs are appointed on merit like Chief Justice of Supreme Court.
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Sep 05, 2022 08:45am
@Justice, I think you fear him!!
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Sep 05, 2022 08:49am
How exactly is COAS responsible for curbing corruption? And why didn't he respond when a once ISI chief pointed to his wife's corruption in Punjab?
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Sep 05, 2022 08:51am
@NeutralUmpire, Imran actually faces Nutrals not tooty footy PDM Govt, How they still in power? Their ministers even scared to take burger in public place! Neutrals still keep them in power. So Imran rightly said.
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Sep 05, 2022 08:53am
What Pakistan perhaps needs is proportional representation. You get seats according to to the number of votes you get. This way you cannot get 30 percent vote and claim to represent all the people.
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Sep 05, 2022 08:54am
Ok needs to come out and admit corruption is even in glorious coas brass.
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Sep 05, 2022 08:55am
@Fragile State , why because he is destroying Pakistan?
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Sep 05, 2022 09:01am
I agree 100percent with IK
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Sep 05, 2022 09:01am
IK claims a big 4 but he won’t disclose who is after him while he is alive, guess then he will have to give proof! But should he go, he wants to ensure there is civil unrest and damage to the country since he no longer gets affected!!??
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Sep 05, 2022 09:03am
This man is sick and it's getting worse day by day...
Stop fighting your own Nation...
It's so cringy now
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Sep 05, 2022 09:07am
N and P will make the most powerful institution in the country more controversial
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Sep 05, 2022 09:08am
You also wanted faiz so that you could stay in power.
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Sep 05, 2022 09:12am
@Sab Se Pehle Pakistan,
He doesn't have a clue about what vision is. Beg, borrow or steal, he wants his seat back which he lost in a perfectly lawful manner.
It is only fair that they wish to have the COAS who
would favour them because he had already enjoyed four years of misrule under similar condition!!!
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Sep 05, 2022 09:13am
@Justice,
You have spoken the absolute truth sir.
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Sep 05, 2022 09:15am
@Tahir Raouf, yes it seems out of mind when you heard truth for the firs time
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Sep 05, 2022 09:17am
This guy have repeated the same speech more than a million times. Can someone ask Guinness book of world record to put his name in the book?
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Sep 05, 2022 09:17am
So now the cat is out of the bag, what SG was speaking was actually this man's mind.
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Sep 05, 2022 09:18am
IK the man with a hangover.
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Sep 05, 2022 09:18am
Imran Khan said the army chief should be “appointed on merit…whoever is on the top of the merit list should be appointed” to head the institution.
Absolutely right. Otherwise it will lise professionalism and we know what happened to Libya, Iraq, Syria because of promotions on personal preferences and not merit.
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Sep 05, 2022 09:20am
Sanity must prevail. Don't drag instituions into politics.
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Sep 05, 2022 09:21am
@NeutralUmpire, If Faiz hameed is not appointed then it is not neutral COAS. Only what I think is neutral: Imran Khan
General Faiz Hameed prevented a repeat of 1990s by Afghan war spill over and brought peace in Afghanistan, he has proven himself.
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Sep 05, 2022 09:21am
We hope who ever comes is able to hold you accountable...IK
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Sep 05, 2022 09:23am
This guy wants to select his own chief,then declare civilian martial law.
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Sep 05, 2022 09:24am
All appointments must be made institutional to avoid lame excuses
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Sep 05, 2022 09:24am
@Qaisar, Please do some favour to flood victims and keep your greed to power for some time.
IK flood relief collection Rs 550 million
PDM combined effort Rs 120,000 ( families and relatives)
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Sep 05, 2022 09:25am
there is no such thing as favorite coas
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Sep 05, 2022 09:25am
@Fragile State , @Justice, I think you fear him!!
Pdm cronies petrified of IK and his accountability drive.
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Sep 05, 2022 09:26am
just as present chief was given extension on merit.
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Sep 05, 2022 09:28am
Absolutely true
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Sep 05, 2022 09:29am
This is NOT the role of the army chief. He should know that and not utter such thoughts.
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Sep 05, 2022 09:29am
Wonder!What the appointment of chief of army staff has to do with election.what role is legally being played by CAOS .why the sole power being given to one institution.. it is no CAOS but CHAOS..A strong man cannot help a weaker unless the weaker is willing to be helped, and even then the weak man must become strong of himself; he must, by his own efforts, develop the strength which he admires in another. None but himself can alter his condition and there by altering the condition of this nation
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Sep 05, 2022 09:30am
Why is he bent upon destroying each and every state institution?
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Sep 05, 2022 09:32am
IKN is a desperate liar
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Sep 05, 2022 09:32am
Just goes to show his state of mind and the level of his thought process.
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Sep 05, 2022 09:35am
He has divided the nation, now he wants to divide the institution to carry out his foreign agenda
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Sep 05, 2022 09:40am
@Zak, he collected 5 billion.But that was pledged and not given so thats typical of pti.it was only to fool people and pti memebrs sitting abroad pledged to show his populaity but didnt donate anything.
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Sep 05, 2022 09:43am
@Justice, Imran Khan has the support of more than 90% Pakistanis and win the next election by 2/3 majority.He will work for civilian supremacy as per Quaid's command and nation's wish.
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Sep 05, 2022 09:53am
@Tahir Raouf, PDM is glued for real democracy or stick.
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Sep 05, 2022 09:56am
@Qaisar, he is multitasking for the future of Pakistan
Telethon speeches he wants to make sure the people of Pakisitan know their rights and not to be deceived in any way by these selfish politicians who are using our motherland Pakistan as a goose that Lay’s golden eggs for them and thier families for generations to come, Khan is the only light at the end of the tunnel which the masses have come to realise…
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Sep 05, 2022 10:04am
@Fragile State , he will ‘single handedly destroy those are bleeding Pakistan’ .
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Sep 05, 2022 10:05am
@Ramay, Institutions ARE political.
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Sep 05, 2022 10:08am
A process does not exist to select the most competent COAS irrespective of which parts is in power. There needs to be a process that the major political parties need to agree to
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Sep 05, 2022 10:11am
Why should the Army chief act as Head of Accountability Commission?
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Sep 05, 2022 10:36am
Which General negotiated the NRO with corrupt politicians under former COAS Gen. Pervez Musharraf?
Does Gen. Kayani ring the bell?
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Sep 05, 2022 10:37am
@Justice, Absolutely right
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Sep 05, 2022 10:40am
@Usman, yes and we remember a kid's shirt signed by Imran niazi got fake offers of 250 million. So it's typical of this man and his cronies to fool people.
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Sep 05, 2022 10:41am
Becoming mad, hounding every instituition.
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Sep 05, 2022 10:43am
What about the foreign funding case? Imran too has to answer for many cases against him - 5 caret diamonds and so on. A forensic auditing of Shaukat Khanum Hospital will shock many. How come only one sister owns properties in Dubai and the US while other sisters live and ordinary life? Because Alima Baji was one of the directors of the Shaukat Khanum board.
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Sep 05, 2022 10:45am
@Zak, People made a pledge and please google the meaning.
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Sep 05, 2022 10:46am
The ex PM is a mere demagogue!! Why should the COAS act as Chairman NAB, or the Accountability Bureau.?The PTI Supremo has been threatening an ICT Choke off since his ouster ; why doesn't he just do it and get the whole enigma done and over with??
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Sep 05, 2022 10:51am
@Ramay,
They already are in politics, even to the extent of regime change!
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Sep 05, 2022 10:53am
What does IK statement imply about our present COAS.?
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Sep 05, 2022 10:54am
From now on he will start loosing support of people and even his most favorite supporter will distance himself away.
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Sep 05, 2022 10:56am
@Kkhan
Thank you for sharing the good news.
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Sep 05, 2022 11:09am
While Pti wants only Hameed to prop up tried and failed Niazi again.
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Sep 05, 2022 11:14am
seems like IK can read their minds. Very smart.
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Sep 05, 2022 11:18am
The position of Imran Khan is similar to fish without water.
There are too many apprehensions which can't allow Imran Khan to complete his sleep cycle due to which his health detoriated a lot.
Imran Khan is now upset as who will be new army chief after retirement of Gen Bajwa in Nov 2022.
He is worried that Shahbaz Sharif and Asif Ali Zardari will appoint their own favorite army chief
Why don't Imran Khan pick up his phone and call PM Shebaz Sharif to ask him as who will be new army chief?
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Sep 05, 2022 11:21am
PDM government has no legitimacy.
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Sep 05, 2022 11:47am
So army chief decides corruption cases ??
Wonder what courts do then ??
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Sep 05, 2022 11:55am
And so do you..
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Sep 05, 2022 11:58am
Isnt it true what he said. Whether he should have said or not is another debate but there is no lie in wht he said. When we will start to speak n face truth instead of sugar coating things. We should say what is truth and face it.
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Sep 05, 2022 11:59am
@AHAQ, but you can trust a guy that was trying his best to make you default and cause more harm to Pakistan during flood times? When has any so called corrupt conspired against the state?
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Sep 05, 2022 12:03pm
How damaging!!!
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Sep 05, 2022 12:06pm
Zardari already floats the idea of Bajwa extension in PDM. ....why is everyone surprised?/
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Sep 05, 2022 12:30pm
It's the sad truth. Neutrals control everything and politicians know it. What is sad is no one is willing to bell the cat once and for all.
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Sep 05, 2022 12:38pm
His observation is right.
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Sep 05, 2022 12:39pm
Truer words have never beennspoken.
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Sep 05, 2022 12:40pm
Time to take the fight to the neutrals
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Sep 05, 2022 12:42pm
What is the Merit criteria for becoming COAS.
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Sep 05, 2022 12:56pm
Make this confused semi man PM
otherwise he may sell your nuclear secrets
Time has come to stop him otherwise this incompetent man will destroy Pakistan
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Sep 05, 2022 01:09pm
This Imran Niazi should be in jail with Wazir. Why is he roaming around freely despite bad mouthing everyone except Farah Gogi?
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Sep 05, 2022 01:20pm
I can expect any nonsense from Niazi as he is one of those who in late 70's ditched country by not playing for Pakistan against India in India, despite in contract with BCCP and left for Australia to make money in Kerry Packer's World Series Cricket. Javed Miandad stayed back for his national duty.
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Sep 05, 2022 01:24pm
Bitter truth
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Sep 05, 2022 01:28pm
In the past their favourite COASs have toppled them
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Sep 05, 2022 01:28pm
Can any one tell what is wrong with I K
It seems he has lost his brain or some thing else?
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Sep 05, 2022 01:34pm
@Wanted, evidently not
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Sep 05, 2022 01:37pm
@Khaled ,
There is no state institution in Pakistan. It's a free for all at the moment.
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Sep 05, 2022 01:40pm
There is no "no-go" area and he hits the corner where is taught to be a 'holy place' for us. Way to go IK. This is the true azadi we are looking for 75 years.
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Sep 05, 2022 01:47pm
@Zak,
Show us where IK spent a dime for the flood relief out of that Rs.5 billion.
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Sep 05, 2022 01:48pm
All Army Chiefs (and Chiefs of other Armed forces) are strong and patriotic - irrespective. They are lured into politics and after retirement benefits by these very Maha-corrupt politicians. NS himself never had good working relations with any of the Army Chiefs during his tenure. And "Boot Polisher" had visited gate No 4 of GHQ during nights. Who said "Ham aapki eint se eint baja denge" ? Trying to manage a confrontation between IK and Armed Forces (CAOS) to save their Mega-corruption.
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Sep 05, 2022 02:22pm
This is the hundredth time ,post ouster, that the ex PM spewed scathing criticism of all, barring his HOLINESS!! WE await his choking off of ICT that he has threatened to do all along.
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Sep 05, 2022 02:31pm
Do we need a political COAS?
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Sep 05, 2022 03:22pm
the current favorite general has history of working with AAZ. And had had his hands dipped in OMNI money laundering. If this is what we want, then this is what we will get.
Pakistan can rest in peace. PDM will be happy
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Sep 05, 2022 07:28pm
@Samira, So the President could issue an ordinance formally abolishing all institutions, it will lesson the burden on the national exchequer.
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Sep 05, 2022 07:52pm
Then as per Imran niazi, is it the army chief’s job to hold accountable the civilian politicians and bring back looted wealth? I thought that was why we have courts , accountability bureaus , parliamentary processes and elected officials?
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Sep 06, 2022 12:57pm
@Wanted, on top of a container in front of a crowd IK thinks only after speaking. Sad reality unfolding every day for voters.
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Sep 06, 2022 01:03pm
Who gave extension to Gen Bajwa (via Parliament)? Is he 'favourite' of IK?
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