Gen Bajwa Allegedly Urges Withdrawal Of No-Confidence Motion: Malik Ahmed

PML-N leader Malik Ahmad Khan has asserted that former army chief retired General Qamar Javed Bajwa had advised the opposition to withdraw the vote of no confidence (VONC) against former Prime Minister Imran Khan. This statement follows JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s claim that Gen Bajwa and ex-spymaster Lt Gen Faiz Hameed orchestrated the no-trust motion that led to Imran’s removal in April 2022.

This marked the first instance in Pakistan’s history of a prime minister being ousted through a VONC, orchestrated by the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), an alliance led by the PML-N. In response, the PTI accused the PDM of colluding with the US to topple Imran’s government, blaming the military, led by Bajwa at the time, for allegedly allowing the conspiracy.

Read more: Imran Khan Accuses Gen Bajwa Of Cipher Loss

In a TV interview, Fazl stated that Bajwa and Faiz were in contact with all political parties regarding the no-confidence motion, outlining the approach for its execution. He affirmed that the move was the brainchild of the two generals, with both the PPP and PML-N eventually supporting it. However, PML-N’s Malik Ahmad contradicted this, claiming that Gen Bajwa had advised against a no-confidence motion during a meeting where all political party heads were present.

Addressing a press conference in Lahore, Ahmad stated that in the meeting on March 26, 2022, Gen Bajwa had advised not to bring a VONC, emphasizing that Bajwa was representing Imran’s government. Ahmad questioned why Fazl recently claimed the opposite and highlighted that Gen Faiz was not present at the meeting. Ahmad raised doubts about Fazl’s credibility, questioning why he made conflicting statements and whether he had any evidence of meeting Gen Bajwa.

Ahmad praised Fazl for resisting and questioning Gen Bajwa’s advice during the meeting. He found it perplexing that Gen Bajwa, who allegedly orchestrated the no-confidence motion, would advise against it. Ahmad expressed skepticism about Fazl’s recent claim and emphasized that Fazl was actively involved in the filing and discussion surrounding the VONC.

The conflicting accounts highlight the complex dynamics and political tensions in Pakistan, with different narratives emerging regarding the alleged interference of the military in political matters. The statements from PML-N and JUI-F leaders underscore the need for transparency and accountability in the political landscape, especially concerning critical events like a vote of no confidence against a sitting prime minister.