| Former PM used the letter for political mileage as there
was no mention of “conspiracy” in the NSC statement

ISLAMABAD   -   Pakistan Army on Thursday clarified that it was former prime minister Imran Khan who had approached the Army Chief to help find a solution to the political crisis.

Responding to a question during a press conference here, Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) directorate, Major General Babar Iftikhar termed it unfortunate that political leadership of the country was not ready to talk to each other at that time. He also said that the word “conspiracy” was not used in the statement issued after a meeting of the National Security Committee last month as he was asked about the Army’s input to the meeting. “The words used are in front of you ... as I said ... the words used are clear. Is there any word such as conspiracy used in it? I think not”, he added.

The presser clarified all the rumours revolving around the “Lettergate” ranging from the military’s involvement in politics, social media campaigns against the Army and extension in the tenure of the army chief. It established at least four things; the former prime minister tried to drag the military in the politics, he tried to use the ‘threatening letter’ for political mileage, he gave irresponsible statement on the nuclear assets of the country and that the US had never asked Pakistan for military bases.

Continuing his statement on inviting Army Chief for mediation between the then government and the opposition, DG ISPR said the army chief and DG ISI then went to the prime minister office and three scenarios were discussed, recalling that one was that the no-confidence motion should be held as it was. The others were that the prime minister resigns or the no-confidence motion was withdrawn and the prime minister dissolved the national assembly. “No option from the establishment was given,” Gen Iftikhar clarified. DG ISPR said that the Army was totally apolitical.  Gen Iftikhar said that the army couldn’t afford to decide which government to have smooth relations with and which to not. “This is not a choice, governments are elected, it is their job to tell us what to do,” he added. The Pakistan army has been consistently clarifying that it has no role in the country’s politics. They have decided to keep away from the politics of the country even then Imran Khan invited the Army Chief to intervene.

DG ISPR Major General Babar Iftikhar said that the word “conspiracy” was not used in the statement issued after a meeting of the National Security Committee. The journalist had asked the army leadership’s stance on Imran Khan’s claim of a foreign conspiracy to oust him and whether the NSC had endorsed such a claim. Imran Khan has been building a narrative that he was ousted from power through a conspiracy hatched by the foreign elements and the local handlers implemented the plan. The DG ISPR explained that issuance of demarches is not specific to hatching conspiracies but can also be given for other reasons.

Former prime minister Imran Khan also issued irresponsible statement on the nuclear assets of the country. The DG ISPR, while answering a question on Imran Khan’s comments about Pakistan’s nuclear assets being unsafe under the Sharif’s leadership, cautioned everyone to be careful when talking on the subject. “They (the nuclear assets) aren’t associated with any one political leadership,” he said, adding Pakistan had one of the best systems and there was no such threat to them.

Gen Iftikhar also clarified that the judiciary was free when a question regarding courts opening on Sunday night was asked. “If something happened that night, it was their decision,” he said. Imran Khan had questioned the “judicial activism” during his Peshawar rally days earlier.

The DG ISPR also rubbished rumours circulating on social media about the establishment meeting opposition parties as was being claimed by the PTI leadership. “There is no truth to this,” he asserted. “I heard these things. If someone has evidence, bring it forward. There were no such contacts, no deal... For God’s sake, there is nothing like this,” he said. He said malicious propaganda is being run against the army and its leaders using deep fake technology.

The narrative of Imran Khan of “Absolutely Not” also fell flat when DG ISPR revealed that the US never asked for military bases. He said the ex-prime minister was asked about giving bases to the US in an interview. “If a demand like that would have been made, the army would have had the same stance as the prime minister,” he said and added, “But the reality is that they never asked for the bases,”. Imran Khan has announced to launch a massive campaign with the support of the masses as he builds his narrative on the “Lettergate”.