A prominent right-wing Pakistani leader of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), Maulana Fazlur Rehman, accused top military leaders, including former army chief Gen (rtd) Qamar Javed Bajwa, of orchestrating the downfall of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) government led by Imran Khan in 2022.
Rehman said, according to the news agency PTI, "The PPP was moving the no-confidence motion against the PTI. Gen Bajwa and Faiz Hameed were in touch with us at the time of the no-confidence motion." He further added, "Gen Bajwa, Faiz Hameed asked all parties to do this (bringing a vote of no-confidence motion)”.
Rehman while speaking during a talk show in Samaa TV said that someone should stand up to the establishment, as per PTI.
“Someone should stand up to the establishment and say it is doing wrong", he was quoted as saying.
"The protest will continue until things are settled, as the establishment has nothing to do with politics. As a result of this protest, there will be a revolution," Rehman maintained.
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Why Come Into Politics?
He questioned the involvement of state institutions in politics. He further remarked that if the establishment believes the elections were conducted fairly, then it signifies the dismissal of the narrative associated with the events of May 9.
"The state institutions are respectable, but why come into politics?" Rehman questioned. "If the establishment thinks that the elections were transparent, then the narrative in line with the May 9 mayhem is buried," Rehman added, as per PTI.
While talking about PTI, Rehman said that there “is a difference of mind with the PTI that can be resolved”.
He also criticised the PML-N for announcing its intention to establish a coalition government with the assistance of other parties, including the Pakistan Peoples Party. “The present parliament has no future, as the decisions and policies in the parliament will come from somewhere else," he said.
Rehman, who had traditionally enjoyed close ties with the establishment, has grown disillusioned following a significant defeat in the elections. His adversaries claim that as a seasoned politician, Rehman may be seeking a future role in the government by criticising the Army.
On February 10, 2022, then-Prime Minister Imran Khan of Pakistan was removed from power after losing a no-confidence vote.
The vote followed a motion brought by opposition parties after days of intense political turmoil. The vote was prompted by a Supreme Court ruling favouring the opposition, which declared Khan's actions unconstitutional.
This vote marked the first time a Pakistani prime minister was ousted by a no-confidence motion, with 174 votes in support of the motion out of 342 members in the house.