Tag: Chief of the Army Staff

  • Four obstacles that could have blocked Gen Munir’s appointment as COAS

    Four obstacles that could have blocked Gen Munir’s appointment as COAS

    Pakistan’s new Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir was given command of the armed forces on November 29 in a ceremony in Rawalpindi.

    In the weeks leading up to the announcement of the new COAS’ name, speculation had been rife as to who among the top 6 senior most Lieutenant Generals would get the coveted spot.

    Kamran Shahid, senior journalist and anchor, while speaking about Asim Munir’s selection on his talk show, “On the front with Kamran Shahid”, revealed that many hindrances dotted the path that eventually led to his selection.

    Imran Khan proposed extension for Bajwa:

    Shahid said on his show that to stop General Asim Munir from becoming the new army chief, “a proposal to extend the then army chief General Bajwa’s tenure was given.” The journalist further revealed that this proposed extension was suggested by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan.

    Martial law was an option:

    “I am telling this to you with a lot of responsibility that there were chances of a martial law being imposed in the country,” revealed Shahid. He further said that this idea was rejected in the Corp Commander’s meeting.

    Now-retired General thought of going to court to challenge his appointment

    The third obstacle to stop General Asim Munir from becoming the COAS was that a “now retired General” thought of going to court over the matter. The problem with this idea was that the Supreme Court can only listen to an aggrieved party. So keeping in view the law and order situation in the army, the now retired General thought of not pursuing the matter further.

    Govt was told to appoint Sahir Shamshad

    The federal government was told to appoint Lieutenant General (Lt-Gen) Sahir Shamshad Mirza, the now Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC), as the new army chief. However, Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif was not in favour of the suggestion, hence General Asim Munir became the new army chief, Kamran Shahid said.

  • COAS Bajwa directs army officials to stay away from politics, avoid politicians: report

    COAS Bajwa directs army officials to stay away from politics, avoid politicians: report

    Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa has issued fresh directives to all his commanders, and officials of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), to stay away from politics and avoid interacting with politicians, reports Ansar Abbasi for The News.

    “These directions have been given in the wake of Imran Khan-led PTI propaganda against the establishment alleging certain ISI officials of having been involved in political engineering to manipulate the upcoming by-elections in Punjab to the disadvantage of PTI.”

    The security establishment is of the view that the PTI should share evidence of the claims they are making. The establishment claims that even if an iota of evidence is provided, strict action would be initiated against those responsible.

    Former Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry tweeted, “The desire of the army chief is commendable but in my personal opinion, the army needs to make a three-year project through which the army can separate itself from politics.”

    Director-General (DG) ISI, Lieutenant-General Nadeem Anjum, made it clear in February to all officials of the ISI that no interference in politics and political matters would be tolerated.

    The incumbent DG ISI decided soon after he joined the office to keep the institution away from politics.

    Lt-Gen Anjum had conveyed to all the concerned authorities not to release to the media his pictures or video footage taken during official meetings.

  • ‘A large part of the army wants elections’: Sheikh Rasheed

    ‘A large part of the army wants elections’: Sheikh Rasheed

    Former Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed has said that the establishment wants early elections to take place in the country.

    “The army itself is saying that elections should be held. A large part of the army is of the positive opinion that elections should be held,” said Rasheed, adding that a preception is being given that the military establishment is backing the sitting government.

    Rasheed was speaking to Channel 24.

    Read more: ‘Refrain from commenting on Pakistan’s nuclear programme’: Gen Nadeem Raza responds to Khan’s comment

    Veterans of Pakistan, an organisation of former military officers, held a press conference in Islamabad on June 6, where Brig (R) Mian Mehmood claimed that when the situation in Pakistan started to deteriorate, their team led by General Ali Quli went to meet the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa.

    “General Bajwa very clearly promised that he would hold elections in 90 days to make the situation in Pakistan better. Today we ask Gen Bajwa: where did his promises go?”

  • PM Khan, army chief reach Balochistan’s Naushki to spend a day with troops

    PM Khan, army chief reach Balochistan’s Naushki to spend a day with troops

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan and Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa arrived in Balochistan on Tuesday to pay tribute to the martyrs in Panjgur and Naushki.

    The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement that the army chief will spend the day with troops and also meet those who repulsed the attack on February 2.

    “COAS will be given [a] detailed update on [the] security situation in the area and operational preparedness of the formation to counter terrorist activities,” it said, adding that the army chief will also “meet troops who participated in repulsing [a] terrorist attack on Feb 2.”

    It was reported that PM Khan will visit Naushki where he will be briefed about the operation against terrorists. The PM will meet Balochistan chief minister and the governor in Quetta and will preside over a meeting on security issues.

    On Saturday, the security forces had completed the clearance operations, which were launched after terrorists attacked their camps in Panjgur and Nushki districts on Wednesday evening.

    At least 20 terrorists were killed during the operations while nine security personnel embraced martyrdom, the military’s media wing had added.

    In Naushki, the ISPR had said, nine terrorists were killed while four security forces personnel, including an officer, embraced shahadat during the “shootout with terrorists while repulsing the attack”. In Panjgur, the security forces had repulsed the terrorist attack after an intense exchange of fire during which some terrorists fled the area, it had added.

  • PM Khan says he hasn’t decided whether COAS Bajwa will get an extension in November

    PM Khan says he hasn’t decided whether COAS Bajwa will get an extension in November

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan during a one-on-one meeting with Dunya TV Islamabad Bureau Chief Khawar Ghumman, said that he had so far not thought about an extension in the tenure of Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General (Gen) Qamar Javed Bajwa.

    “The current year has just started and November is far away. Then why there is worry about extension in the tenure of the army chief,” said PM Khan.

    When asked about rumours of a possible deal between the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the establishment to send Khan’s government packing and whether he felt threatened in any way, the PM said he personally was not under any kind of pressure. He added that he enjoyed the support of government allies and expressed the confidence that his government would complete its mandated five years.

    Terming Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) defeat in the recent local government elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) “a big loss”, and when asked how the PTI planned to ensure electoral success in local government elections in Punjab, the prime minister showed confidence in Chief Minister (CM) Punjab Usman Buzdar and hoped that his party would have a better showing when polls were held in Punjab.

    Talking about his party’s quest for accountability, the PM said major Opposition figures had not yet been tried on corruption charges and still walked free because of weak prosecution.

    He said the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) take cases before the court but they were not being prosecuted.

  • PM Imran Khan meets Lt Gen Nadeem Ahmed Anjum

    PM Imran Khan meets Lt Gen Nadeem Ahmed Anjum

    Corps Commander Karachi Lieutenant General (Lt Gen) Nadeem Ahmed Anjum met Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan, who is expected to formally approve the appointment of new director-general (DG) Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency within a few days, reports The News.

    A source told The News that there is no official word available about this important meeting. However, while confirming it, the source hinted that the notification for the appointment of Lt Gen Nadeem Anjum as the next DG ISI is expected in the coming few days. The source expected it on Friday.

    On October 14, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) parliamentary group had an emergency meeting at Parliament House where PM Khan assured the party leaders that the issue of the appointment of the new ISI chief has been amicably settled by him and Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa and that the government will complete its five-year term.

    Later, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry told the media that the notification regarding the appointment of the new DG ISI would be issued in two to three days.

  • Fawad Chaudhry says PM Khan will meet all candidates for DG ISI slot

    Fawad Chaudhry says PM Khan will meet all candidates for DG ISI slot

    Following the emergency meeting of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) parliamentary group at Parliament House yesterday, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry told the media that the notification regarding the appointment of new director-general (DG) Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency would be issued in two to three days, reports Dawn.

    Fawad denied that the premier would take interviews of the potential candidates but said: “Prime Minister Imran Khan will just meet all candidates (for the slot of DG ISI)”.

    No such interviews have been taken in the past by any prime minister. Rather the official who is selected as head of the ISI pays a goodwill visit to the prime minister after his appointment.

    However, during the parliamentary meeting, PM Khan assured the party leaders that the issue of the appointment of the new ISI chief has been amicably settled by him and Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa and that the government will complete its five-year term.

    Prior to the party meeting, Fawad Chaudhry while talking to reporters at Parliament House, said, “Everyone, at the turn of every hour, is trying to twist the matter to gain some popularity.”