PTI’s Asad Umar responds to DG ISPR’s recent interview

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) General-Secretary Asad Umar in a press conference along with former Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari demanded the formation of a judicial commission on the alleged “foreign conspiracy” to oust former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan from power.

Umar said that it would be better for the army and the country if the Inter-services Public Relations (ISPR) Director-General (DG) Major-General Babar Iftikhar doesn’t find it necessary to interpret political affairs again and again.

Umar said Khan will again write to Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial to constitute a judicial panel and hold a transparent inquiry into the matter.

صدر پاکستان نےبطور ریاست کے سربراہ اور عسکری فورسز کے کمانڈر کے چیف جسٹس کو خط لکھا کہ مراسلے سے متعلق کمیشن بناکر سوالات کے جواب ڈھونڈنے چاہیئے تاکہ حقائق سامنے آئیں، چیئرمین عمران خان ایک بار پھر خط لکھ کر چیف جسٹس سے اپنا مطالبہ دہرائیں گے۔ @Asad_Umar
#PTIPressConference pic.twitter.com/UWSq7lW6iu

— PTI (@PTIofficial) June 15, 2022

“It was a clear threat. It was written that if the no-confidence motion fails, Pakistan would have to pay the price and if Imran Khan is shown the door, then Pakistan will be forgiven.”

He said that it is the people’s right to know the facts and who was behind the move.

Umar said that the party still wants this to be investigated by a judicial panel and an open hearing conducted.

دو بار قومی سلامتی کی میٹنگ ہوئی اور اس میں واضح بیرونی مداخلت کے الفاظ لکھے گئے، عمران خان قانون پر عمل کرنے والے انسان ہیں انہوں نے مطالبہ کیا کہ جوڈیشل کمیشن بنایا جائے تاکہ قوم کو حقائق کا پتہ چلے۔ @Asad_Umar
#PTIPressConference pic.twitter.com/o6b05LIlbR

— PTI (@PTIofficial) June 15, 2022

“[The] DG ISPR is right in saying that some of the military leadership representatives actually said that they cannot see any evidence of a conspiracy. Most of the civilian leadership said there was a conspiracy,” Umar said.

Ever since Imran Khan said ‘absolutely not’ to the air bases, the conspiracy started: Mazari

Meanwhile, Mazari said, “Ever since Imran Khan said ‘absolutely not’ to the air bases, the conspiracy started.”

“There must be a judicial commission, with open hearings, who decides on this matter otherwise it won’t finish anytime soon”-@ShireenMazari1 #PTIPressConference pic.twitter.com/fr6IBFNWUM

— PTI (@PTIofficial) June 15, 2022

Mazari asked why the US diplomats met PTI MNA Noor Alam Khan.

“We are compiling a list of who the US envoy met in Pakistan. Why did the ambassador meet Raja Riaz? Was it to discuss foreign affairs?”

Military’s opinion on national security issues is not final word: Asad Umar

Umar on Tuesday while speaking on Hum News political talk show with anchorperson Meher Bokhari said, “At the outset, you were asking me a question that since it is a matter of national security so the army has a final word on the issue, [but] with due respect, I don’t agree with this.”

قومی سلامتی کا معاملہ ہے اور اس پر فوج کی رائے حرف آخر ہے، میں اس سے اتفاق نہیں کرتا- اسد عمر #سازش_ہی_تھی pic.twitter.com/Niv3UsC8DH

— PTI (@PTIofficial) June 15, 2022

Umar’s comments were relevant to DG ISPR’s statement that no conspiracy was hatched to oust Khan. He said that the military leadership was present in the National Security Council (NSC) meeting and the participants were clearly briefed by the intelligence agencies.

“[They were] briefed that there was no conspiracy or evidence of any kind [against the then government], nothing like that happened. Participants were told in detail that there was no evidence of any conspiracy,” said the DG ISPR.