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Imran Khan, the former prime minister and head of the PTI, defended his "controversial" comments against the top military officials by saying that "thieves cannot be permitted to pick the next army leader under any circumstances."

"The new army leader should be chosen on the basis of merit. The new army chief cannot be chosen by thieves Nawaz Sharif and Asif Ali Zardari, Imran declared on Tuesday while speaking to a crowd in Peshawar.

Imran claimed that a "cabal of crooks" is spreading false information about him to contrast his party with the army.

Every institution"s supporter will talk about merit since institutions can advance only when they are strengthened.

Should a "thief absconder and felon" be permitted to appoint Pakistan"s army chief? Imran questioned the tense crowd, referring to PML-N supremo and three-time prime minister Nawaz Sharif.

Imran hinted at a potential response to the criticism he has received for his views regarding the army chief"s selection process earlier, setting up a suitable response to the "deliberate distortion" of his words to "malign" him.

The former prime minister claimed that Nawaz Sharif and Asif Zardari wanted to nominate the army commander of their choice because if a "strong and patriotic army chief" emerged, they would be asked about their "loot" during a public rally on Sunday at the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad.

The remarks quickly turned into a national debate, with criticism coming from all directions.

Imran Khan"s "poisonous" claims were denounced on Monday by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other top officials in the ruling coalition.

Even President Dr. Arif Alvi had disavowed the ousted premier"s comments on the army chief and advised him to "clarify the words himself."

The Islamabad High Court also voiced its disapproval with the words during a hearing on the prohibition on live broadcasting of the PTI leader"s speeches.

Imran "should first decide what he wants," CJ Minallah had said, adding that he shouldn"t "think that courts will grant any relief after doing all this." In a statement addressed to the PTI head, the court had stated, "You should also hold yourself accountable."