Tag: Chief of Army Staff

  • ‘Army chief is our nation’s father,’ says Shehryar Afridi

    Minister for Narcotics Control Shehryar Khan Afridi has said that army chief is considered as nation’s both mother and father.

    While talking during a talk show on ARY News channel the minister said that in tough situations a nation always takes bold steps to maintain peace in the region.

    Replying to a question about why Pakistan Tehreeke Insaf (PTI) government thinks that a single man can avert tough situations in the country, Shehryar said, “Every house has a father and a mother and both have their own roles, at this stage when the country is in critical situation and facing threats from all sides, all nations has to take bold steps”.

    To this journalist Waseem Badami said that “this seems like an inappropritate example, as you cannot change your father after three or six years”.

    To this the minister said that “the head of state and the head of institution [Army Chief] can be considered as both, a father and a mother”.

    Watch Video:

    Army Chief extension case

    The Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday allowed the federal government to grant a six-month extension to Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa.

    In its short order, the SC directed the government to bring necessary legislation within six months’ time.

    The order, read out by Chief Justice (CJ) Asif Saeed Khosa, ordered the parliament to introduce legislation for appointment of Gen Bajwa under Article 243.

    The order stated regarding the Article 243: “Article 243 of the Constitution clearly mandates that the Federal Government shall have control and command of the Armed Forces and the supreme command of the Armed Forces shall vest in the President.”

    CJ Khosa remarked that the court is observing judicial restraint and leaving the matter to the parliament, adding that “We have reviewed several laws including Army Act 1952 and Rule 1954”.

    The court had earlier reserved its verdict in this high-profile case and directed the federal government to furnish a fresh summary of the army chief’s extension of services.

  • Gen Bajwa allowed to continue serving as army chief

    The Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday granted a six-month conditional extension to Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa as it directed the federal government to furnish a fresh summary of the army chief’s extension of services.

    According to details, announcing the verdict in the COAS’s extension case, which was reserved earlier in the day, a three-member bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Asif Saeed Khan Khosa, sought an undertaking from the government that it would legislate on the matter within six months.

    Meanwhile, Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan also took to Twitter to comment on the development.

    For the third day, the bench heard the petition challenging the extension. When the hearing resumed, the CJP asked Attorney General (AG) Anwar Mansoor Khan to present the notifications of extension granted to former army chief General (r) Ashfaq Pervez Kayani, as well as the notification of the retirement of Gen (r) Raheel Sharif.

    The attorney general informed the court that General Qamar Bajwa has been reappointed under Article 243, to which the CJP remarked that the government had to convince them it was legal.

    After arguments made by the AG and Gen Bajwa’s counsel Farogh Naseem, the bench stated that a 10-member full court will announce the short order in the afternoon, whereas the detailed verdict would be issued in the evening.

    In the meantime, the court granted General Bajwa permission to continue working, conditionally. It further instructed the government to prepare a fresh notification, which does not list the tenure of the extension.

  • Army is embarrassed over Gen Bajwa’s extension controversy: Lt Gen (r) Amjad Shoaib

    Defence Analyst Lt Gen (retd) Amjad Shoaib has said that the controversy surrounding the extension of Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa is a matter of embarrassment for the army.

    While speaking on Geo News talk show, the analyst said that the army had no role in the process and the real work was supposed to be done by the bureaucracy.

    The analytst Amjab Shoaib said that usually the ministers do not know about such matters and get details from the bureaucrats, adding “that those involved in the process should be held accountable”.

    “I can tell you that General Bajwa was not interested in extension but the government convinced him after PM Imran Khan’s US visit”, the former military officer said.

    He also noted that the COAS has helped the government foreign policy and economic affairs and he also arranged loans from the Middle East to assuage the crippling economy.

    When asked about the response of the army chief in Supreme Court, he said Gen Bajwa, in his opinion, would tell the court that it is the prerogative of the government and that the civil bureaucracy must be aware of the procedure and the rules and regulations in this regard.

  • CJP suspends COAS Bajwa’s extension notification

    CJP suspends COAS Bajwa’s extension notification

    Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Asif Saeed Khosa has suspended the notification of Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa’s tenure extension on Tuesday, Dawn reported.

    According to the details, the court has issued notices to all parties, including Gen Bajwa.

    During the hearing of a petition challenging the extension in Gen Bajwa’s tenure today, the chief justice said, “Only the president of Pakistan can extend the tenure of the army chief.”

    “Army chief’s tenure was extended after the president’s approval,” the attorney general (AG) told the court, adding that “The summary had been approved by the cabinet.”

    The AG also said, “A similar petition was filed in the Peshawar High Court but was withdrawn later”.

    On August 19, Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan had approved an extension in the tenure of Gen Bajwa for another three years.

  • ‘Gen Bajwa reached China to control situation after PTI ministers’ statements against CPEC’

    Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs Chairman Mushahid Hussain Sayed has said that Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa had to go to China to control the situation after Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) ministers levelled baseless allegations regarding the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects.

    Speaking to a private media outlet Sunday, Mushahid said it was regrettable that the United States (US) openly opposed the CPEC initiative, adding that the project was not aimed at defence, though it did have various strategic implications.

    “China has no link with attempts to subjugate right to freedom in Pakistan,” he said and added that it was unfortunate how every government in Pakistan tried to take credit for the projects launched by its predecessors.

    Speaking about Federal Minister for Communication Murad Saeed’s allegations about corruption in CPEC projects, Mushahid said not even a single rupee corruption had been proven and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Ahsan Iqbal should take Murad to court in this regard.

    The PML-N senator said that CPEC had a central position in the Pak-China strategic relationship, and maintained that the PTI leadership should be very careful in giving statements about the flagship projects as they were not fully aware of the sensitivities attached to it.