Highlights
- Tension arose in Pakistan over the appointment of ISI chief
- All is not well between Imran Khan and General Bajwa
- Imran Khan wants to make Faiz Hameed the chief of Pakistan Army
The open tussle between Imran Khan and Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa in Pakistan has given rise to a new political crisis. Some have also feared that this tension could lead to another military coup in Pakistan. These two leaders, who run Pakistan, are at loggerheads over the appointment of the Director General of the intelligence agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
Controversy erupts over the appointment of ISI chief
Recently, the Imran Khan government has given green signal to the appointment of Bajwa’s Khas Nadeem Anjum as ISI Chief. Despite this, the crisis is not over and Pakistan seems to be heading towards political instability. After opposing Bajwa’s choice for several days, Imran Khan on Tuesday agreed to appoint Lt Gen Nadeem Ahmed Anjum to the post.
Tension rises over Faiz Hameed
Imran Khan wanted to extend the service to the earlier ISI Chief Faiz Hameed. Faiz Hameed was the man who helped Imran Khan’s party win the 2018 elections. Not only this, Faiz Hameed was also the brain behind the return of Taliban to power in neighboring Afghanistan.
Imran wants to make Faiz Hameed army chief
Analysts believe that Imran Khan wanted Faiz Hameed to take over the command of the Pakistani army after Bajwa’s retirement in 2022. Imran Khan hopes that Faiz Hameed will play a big role in bringing Imran Khan to power once again in the 2023 elections. Faiz Hameed will continue as ISI Chief till November 20 this year. After this he has been made the Corps Commander of Peshawar.
Gen Bajwa quits supporting Imran
Imran Khan is also alarmed by the growing criticism of the army from the opposition Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM). This is the reason that the Pakistani army is also now trying to get rid of Imran Khan. Opposition parties have accused Pakistan Army officials of having undue influence in the Imran government and earning money illegally.
Imran Khan is looking for new support in the army
General Bajwa is now trying to walk away due to political and other reasons including the Imran government’s mismanagement of the economy. This is the reason why the army is getting disenchanted with the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party. Imran Khan is now looking for a new source due to the dwindling support in the army. This is what he sees in Lt Gen Faiz Hameed.
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