Imran Khan was ousted on Gen Bajwa’s orders. Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman revealed in a recent interview that the no-confidence motion leading to the ousting of former Prime Minister Imran Khan was executed on the directives of retired General Qamar Javed Bajwa, the former army chief.
Speaking on a private news channel, Fazl, who spearheaded the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), responsible for the removal of Khan, admitted his initial opposition to the motion.
However, he explained that yielding to pressure from other parties was crucial to avoid the perception of favoring Khan.
The PDM, under the leadership of Shehbaz Sharif, took control after toppling the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government in April 2022, governing for a period of 16 months before transitioning power to the caretaker administration.
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Initially, Khan had attributed his removal to the United States, a claim swiftly refuted by the Biden administration.
Subsequently, he shifted blame to Gen Bajwa, citing alleged conversations where Bajwa purportedly admitted to orchestrating the government’s downfall.
In the interview, Fazl disclosed that despite advice from retired Lt Gen Faiz Hamid to operate within the confines of the parliamentary system, he opted to pursue alternative strategies.
Addressing the aftermath of the February 8 elections, which failed to yield a clear majority, Fazl expressed discontent with the results, alleging electoral irregularities that favored the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).
He declared his party’s decision to join parliament but abstain from government participation, signaling a shift towards street-based activism over parliamentary avenues.
According to Fazlur Rehamn, Imran Khan was ousted on Gen Bajwa‘s orders.
Fazl further revealed that Shehbaz Sharif, the prime ministerial candidate for the PML-N, had approached him to discuss potential government formation. However, Fazl rejected the proposal, urging PML-N to align with the opposition.
In critiquing the credibility of parliament, Fazl asserted that if the establishment deemed the elections fair, then the legitimacy of the May 9 narrative had been undermined.
