You are right...... It might have nothing to do with panama case...at all........and it would have not been an usual thing, as u said PTI is second largest party
But what makes it important...is its
timing....now tht panama decision is about to come, within weeks, and the fact tht PML N has been accusing PTI of backdoor deal with establishment, esp during dharna...why did COAS choose to meet IK,
at this time? Army knows tht all sorts of conspiracy theories will make rounds now. Infact in 2014, it was PM who asked Gen Raheel Sharif to mediate..but then backed out, and PM said tht army did it on its own....which ISPR had to later clarify....
Army knows..tht PML N will cry foul now...even if panama wasnt discussed at all.. But its given PML N a golden opportunity to play victim card and gain sympathy, if panama decision comes against them, and they will try to become political martyrs...humaray khilaf establishment ne sazosh ki.. Umpire ne ungli uthayi hai.. SC judges might be more under pressure now, not to be seen as party to some deal with establishment...although i dont think it would/should matter much
I am really surprised at the timing of this meeting.. If they wanted to convince Imran Khan on Gen Raheel Sharif issue, they should have taken some other route.. Should have conveyed the message through some one else.. On KPK related issues, Afghan refugees, and IDPS, there was no urgency to meet IK,
at this time.. if there was an imp matter related to tht, Corp Comm Peshawar could have met CM KPK Parvez Khattak, or even COAS could have met CM KPK.. they meet already in Apex committees... so while these issues would have been discussed in this meeting..
these should not have been a reason of this meeting, at this critical time, which will have many political effects
Now Zardari/PPP will definitely try to meet COAS too, and Gen Bajwa will not be in a position to refuse since he met IK too.... And if he meets Zardari, then everyone will remember eenton se eent wali speech, and even army officers wont like it... If he doesnt meet Zardari..then same thing ke establishment sazish karrahi hai..
I think, we can expect Gen Bajwa meeting Bilawal, in few days time..though...if not Zardari... because PPP will definitely try their best now to meet COAS..and Gen Bajwa wont be able to refuse now... and then talks of NRO will become stronger
Also, as I said, whatever decision in panama case, it will be interpreted differntly now, and it has given golden opportunity to PML N to play victim,
although panama might not have been discussed at all... Hence i am soo surprised...at this meeting.. Army knew tht what could be its repurcussions, and still did it?
And most importantly, if by any chance, panama decision is lenient on Nawaz Sharif..
COAS tu gaye... Everyone will say..it was an attempt by COAS to manage Imran khan, post panama scenario and it was an NRO attempt by COAS, in favor of Nawaz Sharif..and COAS was behind, the lenient decision, in favor of Nawaz Sharif.....
Why did he take such a big risk, where its lose lose for army in every scenario?
Establishment taking Imran Khan into confidence on different policy issues, is a good thing..but its timing will have many many implications..in the politcal scenario which even Army would also be aware of....... So why this step/ and such a big risk by Army?
@Verve