On Thursday, Maulana Fazal ur Rehman, the chief of Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam, boldly asserted that the vote of no-confidence resulting in the removal of Imran Khan from power was orchestrated at the instigation of General Qamar Javed Bajwa and Lt. General Faiz Hameed.
During a TV interview with Nadeem Malik, Fazal contended that not proceeding with the vote of no-confidence would have inevitably led to accusations of protecting Imran Khan, prompting him to take decisive action.
When asked by Malik if it was accurate to describe the vote as a plan orchestrated by the generals, with mere endorsement from Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz and Pakistan Peoples Party, Fazal responded with a laugh, expressing appreciation for Malik as the “right kind of journalist” who managed to extract the acknowledgment.
Fazal went on to reveal that leaders from all involved parties were not only in regular contact with the two generals but had also been explicitly directed by them on the course of action to be taken. This revelation raises questions about the extent of military influence in the political landscape of Pakistan.
He further noted that while there was a palpable resentment among the people over inflation, it was not uniformly felt across all regions. Interestingly, Fazal pointed out that the discontent had not been significantly experienced in Punjab and Sindh, with the brunt seemingly directed against his party, JUI, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Imran Khan’s removal from power in April 2022 through a vote of no-confidence marked a significant political shift. Following this, Maulana Fazal ur Rehman led the Pakistan Democratic Movement, a coalition of 13 parties that successfully took control of the government.
However, Fazal opted not to assume a formal position in the new government. In response to his ousting, Khan attributed the conspiracy to the United States and later specifically accused then-Army Chief General Bajwa of orchestrating the move against him, adding layers of complexity to the unfolding political narrative in Pakistan.
