Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Former Lieutenant General (r) Tariq Hayat Khan has rejected the allegations levelled by former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf president Javed Hashmi and has demanded an inquiry into the matter.

In a diatribe against his old party on Sunday, Hashmi alleged, “Disgruntled elements in the army wanted to make Raheel Sharif unsuccessful at any cost, and through Imran Khan, they wanted to destroy parliament.”

Responding to his allegations on social media, Lieutenant General (r) Tariq Hayat Khan stated, “A politician by the name of Javed Hashmi has taken it upon himself to accuse me of planning some sort of a coup in my time and day.”Tariq added, “He has been saying this in the past as well and I usually ignore his childish tirades on the grounds that he is probably mentally-challenged and knows not what he says. His age is another factor,” Tariq added.

Stating the reason behind his response to Javed Hashmi, he said; “His diatribe continues and even worse than before. Had it just been concerned to myself, I would have allowed this to fade away, but this involves a whole institution, belittles its leadership and defames it in the eyes of the people for no reason and as such needs a response.”

He said that he had already asked the authorities concerned to deal with these allegations officially and they had confirmed him that they would take it officially.

Commenting on the past of Javed Hashmi, he said: “It would suffice to state that a man involved in the ‘Mehran Scandal’ and jailed for treason earlier in a similar case of defaming the army through false allegations is standing true to habit and his personal character. Being of dubious moral standing, he is passing a judgement based on his own low standards.”

Making distance with the former PTI’s president, he added; “I would like to inform all that I do not know this man nor wish to know him in future. I have never known any politician for that matter nor discussed anything with anyone in politics.”

Explaining his conduct during service, he said; “I never visited a politician’s house nor invited any to mine. I have never attended any celebration, ceremony, marriage or funeral with politicians in attendance.”

He explained; “This is not because I think of politicians any lesser than myself but simply because my life, its conduct and its meaning never needed me to engage with politicians.”

Brushing aside the allegations, the ex-general said, “As such these stories that Javed Hashmi is coming up with are a figment of his own imagination and I am surprised that his mental handicap is being exploited by the media.”

While demanding an enquiry into the matter, he said; “If this gentleman is of sound mental health then his accusations make him a liar lacking in self respect. I would request for a government-level enquiry into this matter to put this fellow’s rubbish to rest.”