Tag: General Qamar Javed Bajwa

  • Ex-General’s son convicted of provoking rebellion in Army

    Ex-General’s son convicted of provoking rebellion in Army

    A military court has convicted the son of a retired major general of the Pakistan Army to a five year prison term for trying to incite anarchy in the army. He wrote a letter questioning the extension given to Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa and demanded his resignation, reported BBC Urdu.

    BBC reports that Hassan Askari, son of Maj Gen (R) Zafar Mehdi Askari, a computer engineer by profession, was convicted under Section 131 of Pakistan Penal Code for criticising Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa’s extension in a letter to him. The conviction was served by the Field General Court Martial in Gujranwala Cantt.

    Askari was defended by a military officer deputed by the military court. The trial was conducted in July and he was shifted to the high-security prison in Sahiwal.

    Section 131 of the Pakistan Penal Code covers inciting army officers to treason. The First Investigation Report (FIR) charges Askari of criticising the army’s top command and senior officers to spread anarchy in the army at the behest of external enemies, reports BBC.

  • 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.”

  • Watch: Zardari reacts to question, ‘Who will be next DG ISI?’

    Watch: Zardari reacts to question, ‘Who will be next DG ISI?’

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-chairperson and former President Asif Ali Zardari, when questioned about the appointment of Director General (DG) Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency, responded with laughter.

    A journalist asked Zardari, “Appointments are being made, a summon has not been issued, what will you say?”

    “My summon?” asked Zardari in response.

    “Who will be the new DG ISI?” asked the journalist.

    Zardari responded by laughing out loud.

    Zardari made an appearance before an accountability court in Islamabad on Thursday and said that the “next turn” to form a government in the country will be that of the PPP.

    Federal Minister for Information Fawad Chaudhry on Wednesday tweeted that consultation between Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa on the appointment of a new DG ISI had been completed and the process for the appointment had begun.

    According to experts in defence matters, the procedure for the appointment is not mentioned in the Constitution or the Army Act, and all past appointments were made as per traditions under which the army chief proposes three names to the premier who then makes a final decision, reports Dawn.

  • ‘Consultation between PM and army chief over new DG ISI complete’: Fawad

    ‘Consultation between PM and army chief over new DG ISI complete’: Fawad

    Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry on Wednesday took to Twitter and said, “The process of consultation between Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa over the appointment of the new Director-General (DG) of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) has been completed and the process for the new appointment is now underway.”

    “The civil-military leadership has once again proven that all institutions are united for the country’s stability, integrity, and progress,” said Fawad.

    Fawad on Tuesday addressed a press conference. “PM Khan is the authority in appointing the DG ISI,” further adding that “all legal methods will be adopted in the appointment of the new director-general”.

    It has been a week since Lieutenant (Lt) General Nadeem Ahmed Anjum was appointed as DG ISI, the post previously held by Lt Gen Faiz Hameed.

  • ‘Indian propaganda only reflects their frustration and attempt to divert attention’: Army Chief

    ‘Indian propaganda only reflects their frustration and attempt to divert attention’: Army Chief

    244th Corps Commanders Conference (CCC) was held at General Headquarters (GHQ) today.

    Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Qamar Javed Bajwa, presided over the conference. The forum took a comprehensive review of the evolving security situation in the region with a particular focus on Border Management and Internal Security.

    https://twitter.com/OfficialDGISPR/status/1445371952001130501

    Taking serious note of the defamatory propaganda by the Indian military, the forum expressed resolve to take all necessary measures to safeguard Pakistan’s territorial integrity.

    “The baseless propaganda only reflects their frustration and an attempt to divert attention from their internal contradictions especially gross human rights violations, being committed in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJK),” COAS remarked.

    COAS appreciated operational preparedness of formations and focus on training, including enhanced collaboration with foreign militaries and conduct of joint exercises in the operational and counter-terrorism domain.

  • CIA chief meets Gen Bajwa, evolving situation in Afghanistan discussed

    CIA chief meets Gen Bajwa, evolving situation in Afghanistan discussed

    Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa along with Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Director General Lt-Gen Faiz Hameed held a meeting with Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director William Joseph Burns.

    During the meeting, matters of mutual interest, regional security, and the current situation in Afghanistan were discussed, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement.

    “It was reiterated that Pakistan remains committed to cooperating with its international partners for peace in the region and ensuring a stable and prosperous future for [the] Afghan people,” the ISPR said.

    The CIA chief appreciated Pakistan’s role in Afghanistan, including the successful evacuation operation, efforts for regional stability, and pledged to play a role for further improvement in diplomatic cooperation with Pakistan at all levels.

  • ‘Army chief agrees fake news, disinformation a threat to national security’: Fawad

    ‘Army chief agrees fake news, disinformation a threat to national security’: Fawad

    Federal Minister for information and Broadcasting, Fawad Chaudhry took to Twitter and said, “Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa, while addressing the Defence Day function, said fake news and disinformation were a threat to national security.”

    Fawad wrote, “This analysis is based on the truth, and therefore the Pakistan Media Development Authority (PMDA) is being brought to deal with these threats, as yellow journalism happens to be the biggest threat to freedom of media.”

    Representatives of media organisations rejected the proposed PMDA and termed the concept as an unconstitutional and draconian law against the freedom of press and expression and a step toward imposing state control to regulate all segments of media under over-centralised body.

    The Human Rights Watch (HRW) in a statement said that as part of its crackdown on freedom of expression, the government of Pakistan is seeking broad new powers in the garb of the proposed PMDA.

    Information Minister faced a hard time as members of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting demanded to see the draft law of PMDA.

    Spokesperson of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Marriyum Aurangzeb, demanded that the draft of the law should be presented for the establishment of the authority instead of a verbal briefing by the minister.

    Adding to her point, Aurangzeb said, “The attitude of the information minister was dictatorial.”

    However, Fawad Chaudhry said that some people did not want to have any regulations in the media industry, adding that Pakistan cannot turn a blind eye to conspiracies being formulated against it.

  • ‘Pakistan will not give airbases to US’: General Bajwa

    ‘Pakistan will not give airbases to US’: General Bajwa

    Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Thursday said Pakistan will not give airbases to the United States (US) if the government has decided against it.

    According to an official statement issued after the security briefing held on Thursday, the session was informed that Pakistan played a highly positive and responsible role in the Afghan peace process.

    “Pakistan’s efforts paved the way for dialogue between Afghan factions and warring groups,” the meeting was told, while it was also noted that due to Islamabad’s efforts, meaningful talks have begun between the US and the Taliban.

    “Sustained peace and stability in Afghanistan will lead to stability in South Asia,” the meeting was informed.

    The participants were further told that Pakistan would welcome a government that was truly representative of the Afghan people and that it would continue its responsible role for peace in Afghanistan.

    “Pakistan’s territory is not being used in the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan […] and we hope that Afghanistan’s land is not used against Pakistan,” the DG ISI had reportedly said during the session.

    A meeting of the National Security Committee was held on Thursday. Army chief and heads of security institutions participated in the meeting. A briefing on Kashmir, Afghanistan, and internal security challenges was under discussion.

    It should be recalled that the government had turned down a US request for setting up drone bases in Pakistan for future counterterrorism operations in Afghanistan. Prime Minister Imran Khan had in his speech that Pakistan could be partner with the United States in peace, but not in conflict.