By Raza Ruman
Why Prime Minister Imran Khan has taken a U-turn and accepted the resignation of retired Lt Gen Asim Saleem Bajwa as Special Assistant to the premier on Information and Broadcasting.
This million dollar question arises as a month earlier Bajwa had submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Imran to accept it following revelations that he allegedly owns huge assets.
But Khan declared in a statement that he refused to accept his resignation because he was satisfied with his explanation on his assets.
Then what suddenly forced PM Khan to accept Bajwa’s resignation… it is being said that the establishment has given Khan a “go ahead” to accept it but let him continue as CPEC chairman.
Interestingly, despite this Mr Khan still says “I am democracy and a powerful prime minister”.
Khan either should have accepted Bajwa’s resignation at the first instance now it appears that the opposition’s alliance PDM pressure is taking its toll on the establishment and Khan.
Opposition is now demanding Bajwa’s resignation from CPEC chairman slot.
Bajwa tweeted: “I requested the honourable prime minister to relinquish me from the additional portfolio of SAPM on Info & broadcasting. He very kindly approved my request.”
He will continue to work as chairman of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Authority.
The official PTI Twitter account had quoted PM Khan as saying that he was satisfied with the evidence provided by Bajwa about his family’s assets.
In August, former staffer of The News journalist Ahmed Noorani broke the news on a website alleging that Bajwa had used his offices in setting up off-shore businesses of his wife, sons and brothers.
After almost a week of silence, Bajwa issued a statement, saying he possessed all the documents about his family’s assets and was ready to present them and the money trail before any judicial forum.
Following the publication of the report, opposition parties had called for Bajwa to face the allegations against him. PML-N vice-president Maryam Nawaz had said that the evidence against Bajwa was “huge” and called for him to clarify his position in front of the nation.
It would have been better for PM Khan if he would either accept Bajwa resignation at the very first instance. U-turn on this issue will make the opposition’s views about him more stronger. PAK DESTINY
