Parvez Elahi ‘cautions’ Imran Khan

A day after Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan censured the former chief of army staff General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa in his address, Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Parvez Elahi — who was seated on his right — resolved to defend the former military chief.

CM Elahi said that he and his party would be the first to defend Gen Bajwa if anything is said against him

"I felt very bad when Khan was speaking against Gen Bajwa," the chief minister said, speaking in an informal conversation with journalists.

Referring to Khan's criticism against the ex-army chief in an address to party workers and supporters on Saturday, CM Elahi said that the former COAS was a "benefactor" and nothing should be said against benefactors.

"Gen (retd) Bajwa has many favours on him [Khan]; therefore, the favours shouldn't be forgotten," the Punjab CM reminded the PTI chief.

He said that they are allies of the PTI instead of opponents but they can't forget the favours of their "benefactors".

The Punjab chief minister said that Khan did not allow former federal minister Moonis Elahi to sit with him but Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) backed Imran Khan.

"We agreed immediately when Imran Khan asked to dissolve [Punjab] Assembly," he added.