Tag: General Qamar Javed Bajwa

  • Azam Swati granted bail in case of controversial tweets

    Azam Swati granted bail in case of controversial tweets

    A district and sessions court in Islamabad on Friday granted post-arrest bail to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Azam Swati in a case related to controversial tweets against Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa.

    Special Judge Central, Raja Asif Mehmood, announced the verdict today which was reserved a day ago. The court directed Swati to deposit surety bonds worth Rs10,000.

    PTI senator Azam Swati was taken into custody by the Federal Investigation Agenc’s (FIA) Cybercrime Wing (CCW) from his home in Islamabad on October 13 after registering a case against him over the tweets.

    In his concluding arguments, Swati’s counsel Baber Awan said that his client had used the right of freedom of expression through his tweet.

    Swati was tortured and humiliated during the custody, Awan alleged.

    After listening to arguments, the court reserved the decision and adjourned the case till today.

    Swati had tweeted, “Mr Bajwa congratulations to you and few with you. Your plan is really working and all criminals are getting free at cost of this country. With these thugs getting free, you have legitimised corruption. How you predict now the future of this country (sic).”

    Swati said that he was arrested for “taking one name — of Bajwa — and that is the violation”.

  • Fact Check: PPP did not suspend Aitzaz Ahsan from CEC, party membership

    Fact Check: PPP did not suspend Aitzaz Ahsan from CEC, party membership

    Claim: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) decided to take action against former federal minister Aitzaz Ahsan after his recent statement about the army chief and decided to suspend his Central Executive Committee (CEC) and basic membership of the party.

    “A resolution will be adopted in today’s session against Aitzaz Ahsan’s remarks and a show-cause notice will be served to him,” party insiders shared with a news outlet, adding that the decision had been taken on PPP Co-chairman Asif Zardari’s instructions.

    Fact: PPP’s sources have revealed that no such decision has been taken and the prerogative of such decision lies in the hands of party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and Co-chairman Asif Zardari. PPP leader Anny Marri also tweeted negating the news about Ahsan’s suspension, saying there is “zero truth to this”.

    Details:

    Senior PPP leader Ahsan had given a statement while talking to the media persons at the Lahore High Court against Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa. Ahsan alleged that the army chief rescued the Sharif family from conviction in cases and he has committed a big crime.

    He said the cases against Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz Sharif were open-and-shut and their conviction was evident.

    He further said it was unfortunate that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had been used for political engineering in Pakistan.

    Punjab PPP acting president, Rana Farooq Saeed, disowned Ahsan’s statement against the army chief, alleging that the senior leader has become a part of Imran Khan’s “anti-democracy agenda”.

    “Aitzaz Ahsan has become a full part of Imran Khan’s conspiracy to derail democracy in the country [by stating that the army chief has rescued the Sharifs from conviction in cases],” said Saeed.

    Verdict: FALSE

  • ‘Shameful,’ Imran slams Azam Swati’s torture

    ‘Shameful,’ Imran slams Azam Swati’s torture

    Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, reacting to party Senator Azam Swati’s arrest has said, “The custodial torture of Azam Swati over a tweet regarding NRO-2 is another shameful incident in our history.”

    “Can people be forced to respect an individual or institution through bullying and violence,” he asked in his tweet.

    “All those who not only escaped from accountability but allowed biggest criminals to come to power once again after defrauding the national treasury of billions, disgrace has been written in their destiny,” he declared.

    PTI Senator Azam Swati was arrested in the early hours of Thursday morning for tweeting against Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa.

    Speaking to reporters outside a sessions court later in the day, Swati said that he was arrested for “taking one name — of Bajwa — and that is the violation”.

    Swati tweeted, “Mr Bajwa congratulations to you and few with you. Your plan is really working and all criminals are getting free at cost of this country. With these thugs getting free, you have legitimised corruption. How you predict now the future of this country (sic).”

  • PTI Senator Azam Swati arrested for tweeting against Gen Bajwa

    PTI Senator Azam Swati arrested for tweeting against Gen Bajwa

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senator Azam Swati was arrested in the early hours of Thursday morning for tweeting against Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa.

    Swati tweeted, “Mr Bajwa congratulations to you and few with you. Your plan is really working and all criminals are getting free at cost of this country. With these thugs getting free, you have legitimised corruption. How you predict now the future of this country (sic).”

    Speaking to reporters outside a sessions court later in the day, Swati said that he was arrested for “taking one name — of Bajwa — and that is the violation”.

    When asked who arrested him, he said it was the FIA. When pressed about the case, he alleged he was tortured by “agencies”. “A parliamentarian has been unclothed,” he said. “I am telling the nation.”

    Swati’s tweet came after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his son Hamza Shehbaz were acquitted in a high-profile money laundering case yesterday.

    The first information report registered at the FIA’s Cyber Crime Reporting Centre in Islamabad, mentions that Swati tweeted with “Malafide intentions & ulterior motives” against “State Institutes of The Islamic Republic of Pakistan and its Senior Government Functionaries including Chief of The Army Staff of Pakistan Army”, reports Dawn.

    The FIR adds that such “Intimidating tweet/s of blaming and naming through Twitter account i.e., @AzamKhanSwatiPK, is a mischievous act of subversion to create a rift between personnel/s of The Armed Forces and an attempt to harm the State of Pakistan”.

    Through the aforementioned tweet, the criminal complaint says, the accused “undermined the Judicial System of the country and also attempted to seduce Army Personnel/s from their allegiance to their duties as subordinates.

    “This is calculated attempt to create hatred in the mind of people and Army Personnel/s against COAS and Pakistan Army and also created distrust towards Judicial System. In such intimidating Tweet/s, the accused Muhammad Azam Khan Swati has attempted to provoke general public and Personnel/s of Armed Forces by trying to create a feeling of ill-will among pillars of the State,” it said.

    It alleges Swati violated privacy and intimidated state institutions, by using false information, “Which is likely to incite, any officer, soldier, sailor, or Airman in the Army, Navy or Air Force of Pakistan to mutiny or otherwise disregard or fail in his duty as such and is also likely to cause fear or alarm in the public and may induce / incite anyone to commit an offence against the State or the State Institution/s or public tranquillity”.

  • ‘Aap mehengayi kam karain, meri tabiat behtar hojayegi’: Chaudhry Shujaat to PM Shehbaz

    ‘Aap mehengayi kam karain, meri tabiat behtar hojayegi’: Chaudhry Shujaat to PM Shehbaz

    Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain met Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday. According to reports, Shujaat advised Shehbaz to follow the constitution while appointing the next army chief and not listen to anyone on this matter.

    About the appointment of General Qamar Javed Bajwa’s successor, the PML-Q chief reportedly advised the premier to follow the book, remarking that “This is a sensitive matter and a national responsibility.”

    According to the details of the meeting, PM Shehbaz Sharif inquired about Shujaat’s health to which he responded smilingly by saying, “Aap mehengai kam karain, meri tabiat behtar hojayegi [You bring down inflation and my health will improve automatically].”

    Shujaat said that they are standing with the government but it should provide relief to the masses.

  • Gen Bajwa says he will retire in November

    Gen Bajwa says he will retire in November

    Putting months of speculation to rest, Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa has reiterated his promise to leave office after completing his second three-year term in November, adding that he would fulfil the pledge he made earlier.

    The army chief made these remarks at a lunch at the Pakistan Embassy in Washington.

    The COAS also stated that the armed forces have distanced themselves from politics and want to stay out of it in the future as well.

    “There can be no diplomacy without a strong economy,” said the army chief stressing that restoration of the ailing economy of the country should be the priority of every stakeholder of the society.

    After the lunch, Gen Bajwa went to the Pentagon for a meeting with US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin.

    According to the ISPR, Gen Bajwa called on retired General Lloyd James Austin III, Secretary of Defence; Jacob Jeremiah Sullivan, National Security Adviser; and Wendy Ruth Sherman, Deputy Secretary of State.

    The army chief arrived in the US on September 30 and met with UN officials in New York.

    General Bajwa is heading a delegation that will stay in the US for another couple of days, diplomatic sources said, terming the visit an important one that portrayed “robust relations” between the two countries.

  • Gen Bajwa told Imran Khan that it is not safe to talk at PM House, says Fawad

    Gen Bajwa told Imran Khan that it is not safe to talk at PM House, says Fawad

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Fawad Chaudhry said that Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa had informed former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan multiple times that the PM House is unsafe for important conversations.

    “The army chief told Imran Khan that the points that what we discuss here is recorded and leaked later on,” he said, adding that, “General Bajwa had said Nawaz Sharif stepped out of PM House when he wanted to talk to him about some vital issue.”

    The PTI leader said that it is unacceptable for PM Office to be hacked, regardless of who is premier — whether Nawaz Sharif, Shehbaz Sharif or Imran Khan.

    Fawad said he doesn’t support the PM’s telephones being tapped.

    Fawad’s comments come after several audio leaks of PM Shehbaz Sharif along with federal minister were leaked.

    On Wednesday, September 28, an audio of Khan was leaked as well.

    Khan can be heard talking about the alleged foreign conspiracy against him with his then principal secretary Azam Khan.

    He tells Azam Khan: ‘Iss par hi khelna hai’, without mentioning the name of the United States, and they then discuss how to form a team on the issue.

    The “cipher” lies at the heart of PTI’s claim that the US plotted with individuals within Pakistan to remove Khan from office. It is based on then-envoy Asad Majeed’s meeting with State Department employee Donald Lu.

  • ‘Elections, appointment of new COAS, Punjab govt’: Sharif brothers discuss it all in London

    ‘Elections, appointment of new COAS, Punjab govt’: Sharif brothers discuss it all in London

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif held a meeting with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo, Nawaz Sharif, in London on Sunday, September 18.

    According to media reports, both brothers had a thorough discussion on various matters, ranging from a time frame of general elections, to the appointment of the next army chief and to the Punjab government.

    The Sharif brothers agreed that the present coalition government will complete its constitutional term. Despite being under pressure from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to announce snap polls, PML-N leadership decided that general elections “should be held at the stipulated time”.

    Both Nawaz and Shehbaz pondered over making changes to the Punjab government, and the name of former Chief Minister Punjab and son of Shehbaz, Hamza Shehbaz, among other possible candidates, was considered for the post of the province’s chief minister. The provincial capital of Lahore has been awash with rumors of a change within Punjab parliament that could derail PTI and PML-Q coalition government.

    The matter of important appoi­nt­ments due in November also came under discussion, including the Chief of Army Staff (COAS). The current COAS, General Qamar Javed Bajwa, is due for retirement at the end of November this year.

    The Sharifs had a three-hour meeting at Hussain Nawaz’s office in Stanhope House. The meeting, the brothers’ second in London since Shehbaz became PM, was also attended by former finance minister Ishaq Dar and Shehbaz’s son Suleman.

    According to reports, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb did not participate in the meeting.

  • IK rejects his own statement suggesting COAS extension

    IK rejects his own statement suggesting COAS extension

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan rejected his own statement on Tuesday suggesting the extension of the tenure of Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa till the next elections.

    In a meeting with journalists, Khan said: “I never talked about the extension of the army chief’s tenure, I just proposed to defer the appointment of the army chief till the new elections.”

    “I did not say anything to elicit a statement from Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR)”, Khan added.

    The PTI chief also decided to call on the nation to protest against the government in September.

    PTI ❤️ ARMY or PTI ARMY: PTI former ministers clash on Bajwa

    Shireen Mazari, senior leader of PTI, took a jibe at anchor Kamran Khan, accusing him and others of misquoting Imran Khan regarding his suggestion to extend the tenure of COAS.

    “What Khan actually said on army chief and what Kamran Khan and PMLN trolls deliberately tried to misquote. The problem here is when the anchor wants to assert his own view or agenda despite IK making his position clear on the same issue. Such anchors should do monologues instead”, she said.

    Fawad Chaudhry agrees with IK’s suggestion to extend COAS tenure

    On the contrary, another senior leader of PTI, Fawad Chaudhry, took to Twitter to give approval to his party chairman Imran Khan’s suggestion to extend the COAS tenure.

    “Yesterday, Imran Khan presented a practical formula for the country’s political future and the restoration of democracy. There is a need to move forward on this formula. The economic condition of the country will not be able to bear the burden of political instability. The status quo can be maintained for the elections.” he tweeted.

    Khan ko kya hua? IK says Gen Bajwa should be given an extension till the next elections

    In an interview with Kamran Khan on Dunya News aired on Monday evening, Imran Khan suggested that the COAS, General Qamar Javed Bajwa, be given an extension in his tenure of service.

    Talking about the possibility of appointing a new Army Chief, Khan said, “There can be a provision in relevance to the selection of the new COAS. When the next government comes, they can appoint a new COAS.”

    When Kamran Khan asked Imran Khan if he was suggesting that until a new government comes to power, Gen Bajwa should continue as army chief, Khan said the country is facing extraordinary circumstances because of floods. He was of the view that for now, the main focus should be on how to get the country out of the crisis.

    During the show, he reiterated that the appointment of a new army chief should be on merit.

    “Neither Asif Ali Zardari nor Nawaz Sharif is qualified for taking this decision on merit,” he said.

    It is pertinent to mention that COAS Qamar Javed Bajwa is due to retire in November this year.

    Speaking on general elections, Khan said, “Mai baat karnay ke liye tayyar hoon”, [I am ready to talk with the government].

    Khan confirmed meeting with former US ambassador

    Imran Khan confirmed that he met with former American ambassador and CIA analyst Robin Raphel. He said, “She is not associated with the government, but is working with a think tank”, adding that Pak-US relations should be good.

    However, earlier PTI had denied that the meeting took place. Fawad Chaudhry had categorically said that the meeting between Khan and Raphel took place three years ago.

    During the show, Khan also clarified that he is not anti-America.

    The PTI chief added that his party’s relationship with the US was not tense, but tensions arose after Khan visited Russia, right on the eve of when President Vladimir Putin attacked Ukraine.

    “I didn’t know”, he stated, adding that the US was upset following its tensions with Russia.

    Since being voted out of power, Imran Khan has blamed America for the “regime change”, while also attacking the establishment in thinly veiled words for turning “neutral”.

  • Army chief asks US to help Pakistan secure early dispersal of loan from IMF: report

    Army chief asks US to help Pakistan secure early dispersal of loan from IMF: report

    Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa has appealed to the United States (US) to help Pakistan secure an early dispersal of $1.2 billion in funds under the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme, reported Wajahat S Khan for Nikkei Asia.

    Gen Bajwa spoke by phone with US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman earlier this week.

    “The IMF has already granted Pakistan staff-level approval for the loan in question on July 13. But the transaction — part of the IMF’s $6 billion Extended Fund Facility for Pakistan — will only be processed after the multilateral lender’s executive board grants final approval,” said the report.

    According to an IMF official who also spoke on condition of anonymity, the IMF is going into recess for the next three weeks and its board will not convene until late August. Because of the recess, no date has been set for announcing the loan approval for Pakistan.

    “There is a major difference between staff-level approval and board approval. Our stakeholders, the countries that take the vote as to whether they are supporting this or not, make the final decision. This is a difference. So the legally binding step is a board approval, not the staff level agreement,” said the official.

    Pakistan’s former ambassador to Washington, Husain Haqqani, said, “This reflects the Pakistan army’s concerns about the state of the economy. It also reflects that the Pakistan army chief is the authority with whom the global players feel the final word rests.”

    Haqqani said that Pakistan has developed a habit of getting on an IMF plan, getting quick access to a couple of tranches, but then abandoning the deals without making the important structural and systemic changes required for further financing. This has left Pakistan little leverage with international financiers.

    “The reason why the IMF program has been delayed is that Pakistan has a track record of not keeping its word with the IMF,” Haqqani said.

    “Gen Bajwa calling the US administration, if he has done so, suggests that he is assuring the US — and through the US, the IMF — that any promises made will be kept.”