ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Imran Khan has rubbished speculation that he wanted Lt Gen Faiz Hameed to be the next army chief which led to a rift with the military.
“I wanted him to continue serving as the director-general of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) during the difficult winter season when the fallout of the Afghan civil war was imminent,” he said during a podcast while commenting on the reasons for his rift with the establishment.
“You don’t replace an intelligence chief during difficult circumstances,” he said, adding that instead, speculations arose that he wanted Gen Faiz to be the next army chief.
The PTI chief further said that he couldn’t even think about appointing an army chief against the rules of merit. Imran also said that unlike Nawaz Sharif, he never wanted to control the army as he had a ‘clean record’ and didn’t fear anyone nor wanted to hide corruption.
Imran Khan said that he wanted to pursue an independent foreign policy whether or not “someone” liked it.
“My independent foreign policy was clear from day one. If someone didn’t like it, then I don’t know about it,” he said, adding that it was his prerogative as prime minister and chief executive of the country.
The former premier also criticised policy of “neutrality” of the institutions, saying “one is only supporting falsehood if they choose to remain neutral in a battle between truth and falsehood”.
