ISLAMABAD: The civil and military leadership has kept silent on another extension of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa.
Speculations are on a rise regarding the extension of the army chief, however, the civil-military top brass kept silent on whether to extend the tenure of COAS General Qamar Javed Bajwa or appointment of a new army chief.
During a press conference, the Director-General of the Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) Major General Babar Iftikhar termed such reports just ‘speculations’ regarding the extension of the army chief.
A journalist questioned DG ISPR that the government is going to extend the tenure of COAS General Qamar Javed Bajwa. To this, DG ISPR Babar Iftikhar replied to the journalist not to indulge himself in the baseless speculations.
On the other hand, Prime Minister Imran Khan had been interviewed by a journalist Khawar Ghumman a day ago in which he also raised a question regarding the army chief’s extension.
To his question, PM Imran Khan responded that he did not think about the decision yet as November is far away. However, the premier said that civil-military relations are best in his government.
COAS Bajwa extension
In August 2019, PM Imran Khan had approved an extension in the tenure of COAS General Qamar Javed Bajwa for another three years nearly three months before the army chief’s retirement. The notification had read that COAS Bajwa’s extension was given in view of the regional security environment.
It added that “The decision has been taken in view of the regional security environment.” The notification was personally signed by Prime Minister Imran.
COAS Bajwa had appointed as the chief of army staff by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in November 2016.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) led federal government had amended the Pakistan Army Act after reaching a rare show of agreement with the opposition parties including Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP).
The Parliament had also passed three bills including the Pakistan Army (Amendment) Bill 2020, the Pakistan Air Force (Amendment) Bill 2020 and the Pakistan Navy (Amendment) Bill 2020 regarding the tenure of the services chiefs — chief of army staff (COAS), chief of air staff (CAS) and chief of naval staff (CNS) and the chairman of the joint chief of staff committee (CJCSC).