Army Chief's extension: New summary formulated in emergency meeting under PM Imran
Legal team apprised PM Imran and federal cabinet on COAS Bajwa extension case.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Federal government has formulated a new summary regarding the extension of Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa after the Supreme Court heard a case into the matter.
The summary was made in an emergency session under Prime Minister Imran Khan, where the Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa was himself present along with the senior cabinet members, legal team and former law minister Farogh Naseem.
Sources said that consultation was held over today’s hearing on the issue of army chief’s extension and the questions raised by the apex court were discussed in the meeting. In the new summary, the word ‘appointment’ has been exchanged with ‘extension’, keeping in view the objection by the apex court.
According to sources, the legal team briefed PM Imran and the senior members of federal cabinet over the Supreme Court’s objections in case pertaing to the extension in service of the Army Chief. Sources told that judicial objections raised by the SC were also discussed in the session.
Sources said PM Imran expressed anger over mistakes in the summary while Army Chief also expressed reservations over difference in notification and summary.
PM questioned that why the objections of the court were neglected during formulation of summary. Action would be taken against the concerned persons after the verdict of court.
Sources said the summary has been sent to cabinet members for their opinion on the matter.
Earlier, Farogh Naseem, who has recently resigned as Federal Minsiter for Law, and Attorney General Anwar Mansoor on Wednesday met Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan in Islamabad.
During the meeting, Farogh Naseem and Attorney General informed the premier about the Supreme Court (SC) proceedings over petition filed against the three-year extension granted to Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa.
It is to be mentioned here that SC’s three-member bench comprising Chief Justice of Pakistan Asif Saeed Khosa, Justice Mian Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel and Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah remarked that the court has been hearing the case on the petition filed by Riaz Rahi and have not taken suo motu notice.
Justice Mansoor Ali Shah questioned whether a retired general could be appointed as the army chief?
The attorney general said the amendment was made under Section 176 of the Army Act, and in the documents [presented before the court], for the absent members of the federal cabinet, it was written “waiting”.
The court responded that it had given the judgement after reading those documents.
“Show us the provisions of the Law upon which implementation was done for the reappointment or extension [of the army chief]?” the court asked.
Mr Anwar Mansoor said he would answer the court after completing his arguments. “No book of army regulation is available in the market,” he said.
“Where the term of the army chief is fixed for three years? Does the army chief retires after three years?” Justice Shah questioned.
CJP Khosa further asked under which provision of the Law this new regulation was made.
The attorney general responded that an amendment was made to Article 255 in accordance with Section 176 of the ARR.
