ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that Imran Khan is trying to make the appointment of Chief of Army Staff controversial for his political interest.

Addressing a news conference, the PPP chairman appealed PTI Chief to postpone his long march till the appointment of the army chief. He said the appointment of the army chief is the prerogative of the prime minister.

“Under relevant procedure and laws, the appointment of the army chief was a prerogative of the incumbent prime minister whereas Imran Khan was trying to make the whole process controversial, which would not be allowed,” he said.

Bilawal said the PTI chief wanted to link his politics with the appointment process of the new army chief. He regretted that Imran Khan thought about himself only and the entire country is suffering from the consequences of his petty politics.

“Why did you choose Rawalpindi? Khan sahib let this decision (appointment of COAS) happen,” he said and suggested the PTI chief postpones the long march for the time being.

The foreign minister said the previous PTI government damaged the country’s foreign policy, economy, and democratic setup and now Imran Khan only wants to create political instability which would be strongly resisted.

He said that Imran Khan attacked Islamabad during the IMF agreement which was foiled. Now all the democratic forces in the country were united and the PTI chief would not be allowed to playing past tactics, he added.

He maintained that Pakistan and its people could no longer bear any crisis. He said peaceful demonstration was a democratic right but no unconstitutional or undemocratic tactics could be allowed,

He reiterated that PPP would play its democratic role by resisting all undemocratic moves. “Khan sahib wants to stop institutions playing their democratic role. He wants to make undemocratic moves, but we will not allow him,” he added.

Bilawal said that the parliamentary parties had played a democratic role to oust the government of Imran Khan through a vote of no confidence.

He said that Imran Khan had always carried out his politics on the shoulders of undemocratic forces. He said the future of a politician like Imran Khan was linked with making institutions controversial.

“If Imran Khan wanted real freedom, then why did he wait for this week for his political objectives?” he questioned.

Bilawal said the appointment of the new army chief was an administrative decision and its completion would end the politics of Imran Khan.

Bilawal said the entire world was facing economic disaster due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. He added that Imran Khan’s decisions had damaged Pakistan’s ties with the countries in the Middle East, Europe and the US.

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