ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said Saturday that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman and former premier Imran Khan was setting a “very dangerous precedent” with his announced protest in Rawalpindi, warning that the move could derail the democratic system in the country.
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, the foreign minister said that there will be a protest in Rawalpindi “every third year” if Imran succeeded in his plans.
“I am giving the opposition [PTI] a suggestion that in order to avoid getting blamed for making the army chief’s appointment controversial, you should change your date and place and let the process to complete.”
The statement comes as Imran gave the call to party supporters to gather in Rawalpindi on November 26.
Addressing the long march through a video link, he announced that he will also join the long march on November 26 “and announce the next plan of action on that day”. He urged PTI supporters to reach between 1-2 PM and announced that he will deliver an address.
Answering a question regarding President Dr Arif Alvi’s role in the appointment, Bilawal said he “will be held accountable if he tried to do something unconstitutional”.
Bilawal, in his address today, explained that there are “many cards in the unity government’s hand that it has not played yet”.
“I will advise Imran Khan to not force us into taking actions that we don’t want to take,” he stressed.
Pakistan’s armed military is set to get a new supremo later this month when General Qamar Javed Bajwa’s tenure as Chief of Army Staff comes to an end.
