I do not talk to ‘boot polishers’, Khan responds to PM Shehbaz’s claims of holding talks

Imran Khan, the Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), while responding to Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif’s statement about holding talks on the new army chief’s appointment, said that he does not talk to “boot polishers”.

Shehbaz Sharif had said a day earlier that Imran Khan had sent him an invitation through a businessman acquaintance to discuss the appointment of the new Chief of Army Staff (COAS).

“I spoke to those with whom Shehbaz speaks while hiding in the trunk of a car,” said Khan. He also questioned why he would send a message to the premier.

Khan also said that he was not raised in a “military dictator’s nursery”.

“I do not call Ayub Khan daddy like Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. I am not like Nawaz Sharif who build General Jilani’s home and massaged General Ziaul Haq’s knees to become a minister,” said the PTI leader.

On the Indian media’s coverage of his attack on military officials, the PTI chief told the neighbouring country’s media that his party is standing with the army.

“I came to power with the people’s power not because of the establishment,” claimed Khan, adding that he only seeks rule of law in the country and the protection of the people’s rights.

Continuing his attack on the coalition government, the PTI chief said that former dictator Pervez Musharraf harmed the country by giving an NRO to these parties.

During a meet-up with vloggers in Lahore, the Premier had said that the PTI chief approached him a month ago and wanted to settle two issues through dialogue.

PM Shehbaz said, “The first matter was the army chief’s appointment and the second was holding elections. However, I refused,” he stated.

The prime minister shared that Khan offered to send him three names for the Chief’s slot and sought three from him to appoint the next army chief. The Premier said that Khan told him through the intermediary, “Let’s appoint the army chief together.”

“I sent a message to him [Khan] that is a constitutional duty that the prime minister has to perform,” said PM Shehbaz.