Attorney General applauds SC's historic verdict

He said that interpretation of law and the constitution will serve as a precedent for the future.

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Attorney General (AG) Anwar Mansoor Khan on Thursday applauded the historic verdict of the Supreme Court which allowed the federal government to extend General Bajwa s tenure as army chief by six months.

Addressing a press conference along with former minister for law Barrister Farogh Naseem, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Accountability Shahzad Akbar, he said that the interpretation of law and the constitution will serve as a precedent for the future.

The AG said that the Army Act is pre-partition and after small modifications, it is being amended, adding that it was never before challenged in court.

Mansoor Khan went on to say that various laws were debated upon and many things came to the fore which were never before decided during the three days court proceedings, adding that the way the Constitution has been interpreted will provide guidance for us in the future.

The attorney general said after the 1973 constitution, various army chiefs were given extensions, adding that General Bajwa was given extension like the former Army Chiefs and the notification was made as usual in this regard.

“It had been a custom to do things the existing way and so when the first notification was issued it was a routine notification,” he added.

The AG said: “Article 243 and Army Regulation 255 are mentioned in Supreme Court’s decision as the 243 and roll 255 were viewed separately by the top court.”

Earlier, talking exclusively to Dunya News, Anwar Mansoor Khan said that the six-month extension to Army Chief Qamar Javed Bajwa means that the court has not closed the path, while the legislation will take place within one and a half month.

Anwar Mansoor Khan expressed that these orders were being passed for the last seventy years, and they have done the same without including anything new in it.

Responding to a question, AG Mansoor asserted that they would act on the verdict ruled by the court. “It is not an issue as bill will be passed easily by simple majority”, he added.

He said that Pakistan Army is a security institution which is recognized globally.

Speaking on the occasion, former minister for law Barrister Farogh Naseem said that the tenure of Gen Bajwa will begin from tonight and the government will bring a law in six months to decide the tenure of the army chief.

He said that the procedure was adopted for the extension of General Bajwa s tenure in line with the previous practice, adding that the government welcomes court s guidance over the matter.

He said judges  remarks should not be misquoted and media should refrain from spreading fake news.

Naseem while categorically denied reports that PM Imran or the Army Chief had asked him to resign. "Neither did the prime minister nor General Bajwa ask me to resign. It was my own decision," he said.

On the other hand, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said that the verdict of Supreme Court was the victory of democracy and it would help strengthening institutions.

She said that the judgment has provided the opportunity to rectify the lacunas in the existing laws and removed them with necessary legislation.

The special assistant said the petition challenging the extension of COAS must not be linked with any particular personality, adding that the dream of country’s detractors sitting abroad have been smashed with the judgment.

Firdous said another three years tenure of Chief of Army Staff (COAS) would start from late Thursday night.