Army chief briefs Senate committee, takes questions during four-hour long session
General Qamar Javed Bajwa has appeared before Senate today for the first time.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – The in-camera session of the Senate committee of the Whole House has on Tuesday concluded after four hours in which Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa briefed the house.
It was the first time in country’s history when an army chief gave briefing to the Senators. Director General (DG) Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lt Gen Naveed Mukhtar and Director General Military Operations (DGMO) Major General Sahir Shamshad Mirza attended the meeting along with General Bajwa.
According to sources, DGMO briefed the house first and told that military courts have announced verdicts of 274 cases so far. It was directed to give death sentences to 161 offenders and 56 of them have been hanged, said Major General Sahir Shamshad Mirza. He further added that 13 culprits were executed by military courts before Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad, and 43 afterwards.
DGMO continued that the proceedings were stopped on January 7 as the tenure of military courts was over, which was later extended on March 28. He informed that 160 cases were forwarded to courts after General Qamar Javed Bajwa assumed charge as army chief. 120 cases were sent to military courts on November 19, he added.
General Qamar Javed Bajwa briefed the session afterwards. He reiterated that army supports Pakistan’s democracy and is working within its constitutional boundaries. COAS said the armed forces are well aware of external conspiracies and maintained that we should all work together to strengthen our country.
DG Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Asif Ghafoor talked to media and told that he will hold a detailed press conference regarding the in-camera session in three to four days.
Major General Asif Ghafoor said all questions were asked on merit from the army chief and he gave comprehensive answers. Let it be known that the lawmakers in upper house had inquired COAS about national security.
The in-camera session of the committee of the upper house was constituted on the motion moved by Leader of the House and PML-N Senator, Raja Zafarul Haq, to prepare policy guidelines for future regional challenges and the role of the United States.
