Gen Bajwa was Imran Khan, Pervaiz Elahi’s benefactor: Salik Hussain

LAHORE: Board of Investment Minister Chaudhry Salik Hussain has asserted that former chief of army staff (COAS) Gen (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa was the benefactor of PTI Chairman Imran Khan and Punjab Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi, ARY News reported on Sunday.

In a statement, the PML-Q leader – while reacting to Pervaiz Elahi’s recent statement – said that Gen Bajwa was the benefactor of PTI Chairman Imran Khan and the incumbent Punjab Chief Minister.

“Pervaiz Elahi has expressed what he is thinking,” Salik Hussain said, if the incumbent Punjab CM returns by reforming himself, the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) would welcome him.

He urged Pervaiz not to support the one ‘who turned against his benefactor’, in an apparent reference to Imran Khan.

Earlier in the day, Punjab CM Pervaiz Elahi expressed displeasure over the former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan for his continuous criticism of ex-army chief retired General Qamar Javed Bajwa.

Speaking on the ARY News programme The Reporters, Punjab CM Elahi said that he had urged the PTI chief to avoid criticism of Gen (r) Bajwa during his yesterday’s Liberty Chowk rally speech. “Imran Khan criticised Gen Bajwa in his Lahore speech during my presence which is an injustice to me,” he said.

He went on to say that Gen Bajwa frequently helped PTI during its government and criticism of him after his retirement was unfair. CM Elahi said that his party supported PTI in the Centre and Punjab despite reservations.

Pervaiz Elahi said the PML-Q endorsed Imran Khan’s decision to dissolve the Punjab Assembly, but we could not stab our benefactors in the back.

Former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan in his Lahore speech announced to dissolve Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) assemblies on December 23.