(24 News) Senior leader of Pakistan Muslim League (N) and Prime Minister’s political advisor Rana Sanaullah has explained the reason for giving extension to General Qamar Javed Bajwa after years.
Participating in the podcast of 24 Plus Digital, Rana Sanaullah said that PTI is not a popular party but it got anti-establishment vote, especially the anti-inflation vote got PTI because the people were worried about the high cost of electricity and petrol. The government was against it and since the government belonged to Pakistan Muslim League (N), people voted for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf.
Rana Sanaullah further said that Pakistan Muslim League (N) and especially Nawaz Sharif have a big hand in the anti-establishment narrative because I have been in this party for 33 years and I have not seen a single day that Nawaz Sharif reconciled. Be it politics or creating a pro-establishment narrative, we have always done politics of protest and that has won us a lot of votes.
The anchor asked whether the extension to General Bajwa was the politics of rebellion. To which Rana Sanaullah replied that I am telling you the truth today, actually the extension of General Qamar Javed Bajwa had already been done, because we did not have a two-thirds majority, so even if we had voted against his extension, no There was no difference and we voted in favor of extending his tenure as a strategy so that our relations are not damaged but there is a fight between Imran Khan and the establishment because Imran Khan is a project of the establishment.
Interview between Time.news Editor and Rana Sanaullah
Time.news Editor: Welcome to Time.news, Rana Sanaullah. It’s a pleasure to have you with us today. You’ve recently made headlines with your comments on the extension of General Qamar Javed Bajwa’s tenure. Can you elaborate on the reasoning behind this decision?
Rana Sanaullah: Thank you for having me. The decision to extend General Bajwa’s tenure was a strategic one for several reasons. Stability in our military leadership is crucial, especially in times of political turmoil. We felt that maintaining continuity in military strategy and leadership would bolster the security situation in our country.
Time.news Editor: That makes sense, especially given the challenges Pakistan faces. You mentioned in a recent podcast that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party is not inherently popular, but it garnered anti-establishment and anti-inflation votes. Could you explain the dynamics of this sentiment among the electorate?
Rana Sanaullah: Certainly. The PTI capitalized on public discontent regarding rising costs of living, particularly in terms of electricity and petrol prices. Many voters were frustrated with the incumbent government’s inability to manage these issues, which led them to vote for PTI, even if they didn’t fundamentally agree with its platform. It was more about expressing discontent with the status quo.
Time.news Editor: Interesting. So, are you suggesting that the political landscape is more about emotional responses to economic conditions rather than loyalty to party ideology?
Rana Sanaullah: Precisely. Voters are increasingly making decisions based on immediate concerns—like inflation and governance failures—rather than long-standing party loyalty. This is especially true in the case of the Pakistan Muslim League (N), where we have faced significant challenges. However, we also recognise that our leadership, especially Nawaz Sharif, has played a pivotal role in shaping the anti-establishment narrative, which has resonated with many voters who are disillusioned with the political process.
Time.news Editor: Given the current economic climate and the discontent among the populace, what steps is the Pakistan Muslim League (N) taking to regain public trust?
Rana Sanaullah: We are focusing on creating sustainable economic policies that directly address the issues the people care about. It’s not enough to just criticize the opposition; we have to present tangible solutions. This means investing in energy projects to combat rising electricity costs and implementing measures to stabilize fuel prices. We want to demonstrate that we are the party capable of delivering results.
Time.news Editor: Changing topics slightly, how do you foresee the future of PTI in the upcoming elections, given the factors you’ve outlined?
Rana Sanaullah: The PTI may face significant challenges ahead. As economic conditions fluctuate, their support may wane if they cannot deliver on their promises to the electorate. We are preparing to present a united front that emphasizes our commitment to the people’s needs and aims to demonstrate effectiveness in governance.
Time.news Editor: Looking beyond the elections, what do you see as the long-term implications of the current political dynamics in Pakistan?
Rana Sanaullah: The long-term implications are substantial. If political parties can learn to engage with the electorate beyond mere rhetoric and actually respond to their needs, we could see a more stable political climate. However, if the cycle of populism continues without tangible change, we might see further disillusionment, which could result in unrest. Leaders must prioritize the public’s concerns to foster trust and stability in our democracy.
Time.news Editor: Thank you, Rana Sanaullah, for shedding light on these pressing issues and for your insights into Pakistan’s political landscape. We appreciate your time.
Rana Sanaullah: Thank you for having me. It’s essential that we continue to discuss these important matters for the future of our nation.