Pak govt and military on same page: PM Imran Khan

Image
Press Trust of India Islamabad
Last Updated : Dec 04 2018 | 5:30 PM IST

Pakistan Prime Minster Imran Khan has dismissed reports of any civil-military friction unlike previous regimes, saying his government enjoyed unwavering support of the armed forces, a key player in the country's politics.

The government of the cricketer-turned-politician, which completed the first 100 days last Friday, said all ministers have reported their achievements to him and that he will review their performance.

"We might change some ministers," he said on Monday while answering questions by a panel of journalists representing various Pakistani media organisations.

"There is not a single decision that I haven't taken on my own, and there's not a single decision that doesn't have the support of the army," Khan said while responding to a question on cooperation among state institutions.

"[Chief of Army Staff] General Qamar Javed Bajwa stands right beside my decisions," he added.

Khan said the Pakistan Army "is currently totally standing by his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party's manifesto".

Pakistan's Opposition parties have alleged that the military tacitly backed Khan in the general elections in July.

"We have no problems at the present," he said, adding that his government also hasn't faced issues of "civil-military discord" as seen during past governments. He was apparently referring to the tension between the previous government of Nawaz Sharif and the military over a number of issues.

Coup-prone Pakistan has been under military rule for almost half of its existence, with many governments deposed before completing its term, mostly at the behest of the country's powerful armed forces.

Khan defended his close relations with the military, saying leaders around the world seek the opinion of their military establishment "since they are equipped with the means to brief us on security issues".

Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content

*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Dec 04 2018 | 5:30 PM IST

Next Story