Stage set for major reshuffle in top military brass

[Varun]

Iranian mullahs executed a woman for not wearing hijab correctly, they achieved that without a single tweet in anger. Does that make them worthy of your admiration?

Have you been following the news? Iran is on absolute fire right now because of this issue, while the subjects in Pakistan are living life routinely despite the supposed upheaval by Emperor Bajwa.

 

[Bewal Express]

Have you been following the news? Iran is on absolute fire right now because of this issue, while the subjects in Pakistan are living life routinely despite the supposed upheaval by Emperor Bajwa.

If you listen to media here, Iran has been on fire for decades. The reality is that most people in Iran couldn't care less about this. In PK, people are fully aware that any conflict between the people and the army will damage PK, a fight that no can win except our enemies

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

If you listen to media here, Iran has been on fire for decades. The reality is that most people in Iran couldn't care less about this. In PK, people are fully aware that any conflict between the people and the army will damage PK, a fight that no can win except our enemies

It must be a coincidence that these enemies keep tweeting and hooting about Afghanistan, Iran, China and Israel. Yet barely one person from those said countries posts here.

 

[MenInG]

President Dr Arif Alvi on Monday said that “broader consultation” on the appointment of the chief of army staff (COAS) was a must so that a consensus could be developed.

In an interview with journalist Asma Shirazi on Aaj TV, the president desired that a summary of the appointment be sent to him after the consultation has been completed.

Army Chief Gen Qamar Bajwa is set to retire on Nov 29. The outgoing COAS ended all speculations about him getting another extension when at an event in Washington he confirmed that he would be stepping down at the end of his extended tenure in November.

The next army chief’s appointment is at times mentioned as one of the major subplots in the ongoing political crisis engulfing the country.


Responding to a question about his role in the decision, President Alvi said that he would approve the appointment of the next COAS in line with the procedure laid out in the Constitution.

He said that in the past, too, the opposition was consulted on the appointment of the army chief. A similar discussion with the then-opposition was held when PTI chief Imran Khan extended the three-year term of General Bajwa in 2019, the president pointed out.

In 2019, Alvi went on, the National Assembly had approved a law to extend Gen Bajwa’s terms after questions were raised before the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

“The law must have been introduced in the Parliament after closure was reached during a consultation.”

‘Not convinced about foreign conspiracy’
Talking about PTI’s alleged foreign conspiracy, President Alvi said that he was not convinced that the United States had lodged a conspiracy to oust Imran.

Ever since his ouster, Imran has said that the no-confidence motion against him was part of a foreign conspiracy, claiming that the cable received from the ambassador on March 7, a day before the opposition officially filed the no-trust move against him, was evidence of the conspiracy.

During the interview today, Alvi said: “I sent that letter to the chief justice. I am convinced that there must be a probe on it. I am not convinced on the fact that a conspiracy was hatched. But I have my doubts [and] there must be a probe.

“I also said that you won’t get a smoking gun on it,” he stated, adding that he had requested the Supreme Court to take into account the circumstantial evidence.

‘Impartial as president’
In response to a question on bridging gaps between the incumbent government and PTI, Alvi said that he was impartial as the president of the country and that his affiliation with the PTI was a thing of the past. “The party is my past. It is a very good past.”

The president said that there were several problems in the country that “a maverick” alone could not solve. A president could make efforts to bridge that gulf, he stated.

On Imran’s refusal to hold talks with the government, the president said that the PTI chief had become “extremely frustrated” when his government was ousted.

“After becoming frustrated, he decided that he would not sit in the National Assembly,” he said, adding that if he was consulted regarding the decision, he “might have offered different advice”.

Answering a question about Imran’s march and the military’s role, the president asserted that the military had a constitutional role to play.

When asked if the army was ‘neutral’, he said they should be.

 

[daytrader]

Stage set for major reshuffle in top military brass

ISLAMABAD: The army on Tuesday announced 12 major generals had been promoted to the rank of lieutenant general, setting the stage for a major reshuffle in the top brass ahead of the change in command at the end of next month.

The promoted generals, according to ISPR, are Maj Gen Inam Haider Malik, Maj Gen Fayyaz Hussain Shah, Maj Gen Nauman Zakria, Maj Gen Mohammad Zafar Iqbal, Maj Gen Ayman Bilal Safdar, Maj Gen Ahsan Gulrez, Maj Gen Syed Aamer Raza, Maj Gen Shahid Imtiaz, Maj Gen Mohammad Munir Afsar, Maj General Babar Iftikhar, Maj Gen Yousaf Jamal, and Maj Gen Kashif Nazir.

It is rare to see such a big number of promotions to the rank of lieutenant general at one time. The promotions in the Army had been overdue for almost a year though these elevations are normally said to be done on the basis of vacancies.

The 12 newly promoted generals would be taking up the positions vacated due to the retirement of three lieutenant generals in mid of October 2021, one in July this year and five at the end of September. Those who had retired a year ago were Lt Gen Majid Ehsan, the then IG Arms, Lt Gen Amir Abbasi, the then QMG, and Lt Gen Hamooduz Zaman Khan, the then Commander of Army Air Defence Command.

12 major generals promoted in one go

Lt Gen Moazzam Ejaz, then Engineer in Chief, had retired in July, while the five generals who retired a few weeks ago are then Lahore corps commander Lt Gen Abdul Aziz; then DG Strategic Plans Division Lt Gen Nadeem Zaki Manj, then Mangla corps commander Lt Gen Shaheen Mazhar Mehmood, then IG Training and Evaluation Lt Gen Syed Mohammad Adnan, and then DG Joint Staff Headquarters Lt Gen Waseem Ashraf.

The tenth slot fell vacant after the martyrdom of Lt Gen Sarfraz Ali, then corps commander Balochistan, in a helicopter crash during flood relief operations on Aug 2.

Two more generals have been promoted in anticipation of the promotion of two lieutenant generals to fill the impending four-star vacancies due to the upcoming retirement of Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Gen Nadeem Raza and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa.

Promotions at this level in the army are the sole prerogative of the COAS. But traditionally the chiefs hold informal consultations with other senior generals while taking these decisions.

The latest promotions are being seen as one of the more consequential decisions taken by Gen Bajwa ahead of his retirement as the 12 promoted officers would form a major chunk of the team that the new chief would inherit in November. All eyes would now be on the posting of the promoted officers, which would be done soon by GHQ. Several important positions are currently lying vacant.

Gen Bajwa, shortly after his appointment in 2016, got an opportunity to promote seven major generals, which helped him set up his own team. The seven positions had on that occasion fallen vacant due to promotion of two officers to four star ranks, while four others quit after being superseded.

Among the newly promoted officers, a few of them had worked closely with Gen Bajwa. These officers are Vice Chief of General Staff-A Gen Nauman Zikriya, DG ISPR Gen Babar Iftikhar, and DG Perspective Planning Cell Gen Ayman Bilal Safdar.

Gen Inam Haider Malik was director general works and chief engineer, Gen Fayyaz Hussain Shah was DG Doctrine and Evaluation at Training and Evaluation Branch, Gen Ahsan Gulrez was DG Military Training at Training and Evaluation Branch, Gen Mohammad Zafar Iqbal was Officiating Commander, Army Air Defence Command, Gen Syed Aamer Raza was HIT chairman, Gen Shahid Imtiaz was Commandant of the School of Infantry & Tactics, Quetta, Gen Munir Afsar was IG Frontier Corps (South), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gen Yousaf Jamal was DG National Logistics Cell, and Gen Kashif Nazir is from the Corps of Engineers and was last year holding an influential position in ISI.

Nearly 20 major generals were superseded in this exercise, but there weren’t many big surprises, barring a couple or so.

DAWN

 

[MenInG]

Awami Muslim League chief Sheikh Rashid Ahmed has said that if Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz's (PML-N) desired army chief is not appointed, the "partnership" it is having will break, in an apparent reference to the establishment.

"The law will bring Nawaz Sharif to Pakistan or drive away more criminals, we need to wait for it. With NAB's amendment, thieves have been given free hand and justice has been given the death penalty," he wrote on his Twitter handle.
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Rashid said that Moody's has cut the rating of five more banks, adding that if the situation worsens, politics and politicians both may get into trouble.

The statement comes as a debate rages in national media and political circles on possible successors to incumbent Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa, who is scheduled to retire in November.

The constitution allows the prime minister to pick the military head from a list of generals submitted by the outgoing chief. However, the matter saw intense tensions when last month the army reacted strongly to some “defamatory” statements made by Imran Khan on the appointment of the new military chief.

Addressing a rally in Faisalabad in Punjab last month, Imran had accused the government of trying to appoint a “favourite” as the next army chief, stirring political controversy with Imran's arch-rivals demanding action against him for "maligning" state institutions.

However, during a media talk in Islamabad earlier this month, PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry rubbished the allegations that his party had objections to the appointment of any new army chief but clarified that it had only reservations about those at the helm of the process of picking a new military head.

Fawad said all the generals are picked through a thorough meticulous process and the PTI does not object to any new army chief being appointed.

Express Tribune

 

[daytrader]

‘Establishment not with us’ during last four months in power
Imran tells lawyers to join his ‘real freedom’ movement at this ‘most decisive moment’ in country

KARACHI:
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan on Friday said that the establishment was with his party when it came to power after the July 2018 general elections, but it was not with his government during the last four months in office.

Talking informally to journalists and addressing the lawyers at the City Courts in Karachi, Imran warned that if the current rulers trampled the law, there would be no future for the country, stressing that “we should not let that happen”.

“When we came to power, the establishment was with us but in the last three to four months of the government, the establishment was not with us,” Imran said.

“Even I was the prime minister, but I had no authority over NAB (National Accountability Bureau).”

He added that if he formed the government again, he would not accept this situation.

Imran, who is contesting by-elections from Karachi, said that Sunday’s (October 16) vote was not just a by-election but an election to determine the future of Pakistan.

“If the thieves succeed, the country will have no future,” he said, firing a broadside at his political arch-rivals.

He repeated his party’s stance that there was a foreign conspiracy behind the removal of the PTI government in April this year.

“Political parties go to the people, and not to America,” he said. “This gang of thieves and corrupt has come to power to end their cases. They have no sympathy with the people.”

Earlier, addressing the lawyers fraternity at the City Courts on the invitation of Karachi Bar Association, Imran said that he was fighting for “real freedom”, urging the lawyers to stand up for the rule of law at this “most decisive moment” in the country’s history.

“If big criminals are given NRO 2, there is no future for the country,” Imran said, referring to the political amnesty granted by then military ruler Pervez Musharraf through the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) in 2007.

The ordinance was later struck down by the Supreme Court.

“The country has no future if the small thieves are incarcerated in jails and the big thieves sit in their houses,” he said, referring to the ruling party leadership.

“These robbers used to go abroad [when not in government], and return after [getting] NRO and then they loot again,” he alleged.

Imran told the lawyers that they “understand the rule of law”, warning that the situation would turn worse if the rulers trampled the law.

“We must not let that happen,” he continued. “The lawyers have always fought for the rule of law, just like the great lawyers who led the Pakistan movement,” he added.

“I am fighting for real freedom from these thieves and I want everyone to join me in this struggle. I want you all [lawyers] to come together and join us in this struggle,” Imran said, “If these thieves succeed this time, our country will have no future.”

Earlier, Imran was given a rousing welcome when he arrived at the Jinnah Auditorium for his address. He was welcomed by office-bearers of the KBA and the Insaf Lawyers Forum. Senior PTI leaders Asad Umar, Imran Ismail, Ali Zaidi and Haleem Adil Sheikh also accompanied Imran.

Express Tribune

 

[daytrader]

Will retire in five weeks, not to take extension: Gen Bajwa
The COAS, according to the sources, said that the army will not play any role in politics

RAWALPINDI: Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa Friday said that he will not seek an extension and retire after five weeks, Geo News reported, quoting unnamed sources. The COAS, according to the sources, said that the army will not play any role in politics.

It is pertinent to note that the extended term of General Bajwa is ending on November 29 and the government has announced that the appointment of his successor will be made in due course and according to the Constitution.

PTI Chairman Imran Khan called for deferring the appointment, saying the incumbent rulers were “not qualified” to make the decision in this regard. In reaction to Khan’s statement, Minister for Energy Khurram Dastgir on September 17 said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will take the decision on the appointment of chief of the army staff in London after holding consultations with the party supremo Nawaz Sharif.

Addressing a press conference in Gujranwala, the energy minister, without mentioning the PTI chairman’s name, said that no matter how many times Khan meets with the army chief, the final decision will be taken by the prime minister. On the other hand, Minister for Defence Khawaja Asif had said that no process had been started to extend the army chief’s tenure nor there had been any suggestion in this regard.

The News PK

 

[daytrader]

Imran seeks judiciary’s intervention amid rights violations

ISLAMABAD: Days after giving up hopes on the backdoor talks with the power quarters, former prime minister Imran Khan on Monday called out the “senior judiciary” for its “inaction” amid alleged violation of laws and the constitution allegedly by state institutions.

In a statement issued by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), party chairman Imran Khan said that the masses saw a “foreign abetted regime change conspiracy taking place, sending Pakistan into chaos”. Mr Khan was referring to the no-confidence motion by the opposition parties, which are part of the government now, against him which sent him packing in April this year.

Despite all this, the “senior Judiciary continued to remain aloof”, Mr Khan said as he beseeched for an intervention. “When will the judiciary move to act against state institutions that are defying all laws and violating the Consti*tu*tion? When will our senior judiciary act to ensure our citizens’ fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution are protected,” he questioned.

“It is high time they did and safeguarded against excesses by the state and government. We have seen citizens, politicians, journalists and human rights defenders intimidated, arrested, charged with terrorism and incitement to mutiny and tortured,” Mr Khan said ostensibly referring to a number of cases against PTI leaders. “We see fake cases and misuse of power by different executive branches expanding,” he added.

The former premier also called for a judicial inquiry into the killing of senior journalist Arshad Sharif in Kenya.

Meanwhile, PTI legislators demanded calling Inte*rior Minister Rana Sana*ullah to the privilege committee to explain the arrest and treatment meted out to PTI MNA Saleh Muhammad.

They held a meeting to discuss the arrest of the PTI lawmaker and urged National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf to summon the interior minister and the Inspector General of Police Islamabad to the committee for an explanation.

MNA Saleh Muhammad was arrested on terrorism charges for allegedly shooting at a police party dep*loyed on security duty outside the Election Com*mis*sion of Pakistan.

Swati moves SC

In another development, Senator Azam Swati filed an application in Supreme Court to investigate the personalities behind his arrest and subsequent torture. Speaking to media persons, he urged the apex court to take notice of his arrest and ask the Federal Investiga*tion Agen**cy (FIA) about the “involvement of plain*clothesmen” in his arrest and torture in front of his grandchildren on Oct 13.

DAWN

 

[MenInG]

In a startling revelation, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has claimed that his predecessor and PTI Chairman Imran Khan had offered him to appoint the next army chief through mutual consultation last month.

Speaking to Vloggers in Lahore on Saturday, the prime minister claimed that Imran Khan proposed through his aide that each side should propose three names for the post of next army chief.
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According to PM Shahbaz, Imran had proposed that both sides will agree on the name of the army chief after considering the six names suggested by the both sides.

“I flatly refused his [Imran] offer by saying thank you,” the premier was quoted as saying.

The PM said he sent a message to the PTI chief that appointing army chief was his constitutional duty “that has to be fulfilled by the prime minister”.

Besides army chief’s appointment, the PM said he offered Imran to hold talks on his offer to signing “charter of democracy and charter of economy”.

Speaking about the unprecedented presser of top military leaders, PM Shehbaz said DG ISI Lt Gen Nadeem Anjum held a press conference with his consent.

The incumbent army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa’s six-year tenure ends in late November and the chief military spokesperson had already clarified that the current army chief had no intention to seek further extension.

Earlier this month, General Bajwa had said that he would not accept another extension to his service tenure and that he would be retiring “within five weeks”, multiple media outlets reported on the authority of sources.

The army chief was addressing the 24th National Security Workshop at the National Defence University (NDU) on Oct 21 where attendees included lawmakers, businesspeople, diplomats, media persons and military officials.

Express Tribune

 

[Bewal Express]

In a startling revelation, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has claimed that his predecessor and PTI Chairman Imran Khan had offered him to appoint the next army chief through mutual consultation last month.

Speaking to Vloggers in Lahore on Saturday, the prime minister claimed that Imran Khan proposed through his aide that each side should propose three names for the post of next army chief.
Advertisement

According to PM Shahbaz, Imran had proposed that both sides will agree on the name of the army chief after considering the six names suggested by the both sides.

“I flatly refused his [Imran] offer by saying thank you,” the premier was quoted as saying.

The PM said he sent a message to the PTI chief that appointing army chief was his constitutional duty “that has to be fulfilled by the prime minister”.

Besides army chief’s appointment, the PM said he offered Imran to hold talks on his offer to signing “charter of democracy and charter of economy”.

Speaking about the unprecedented presser of top military leaders, PM Shehbaz said DG ISI Lt Gen Nadeem Anjum held a press conference with his consent.

The incumbent army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa’s six-year tenure ends in late November and the chief military spokesperson had already clarified that the current army chief had no intention to seek further extension.

Earlier this month, General Bajwa had said that he would not accept another extension to his service tenure and that he would be retiring “within five weeks”, multiple media outlets reported on the authority of sources.

The army chief was addressing the 24th National Security Workshop at the National Defence University (NDU) on Oct 21 where attendees included lawmakers, businesspeople, diplomats, media persons and military officials.

Express Tribune

And apparently IK is the stubborn one. Kaptaan showed that for the sake of the country, the Army chief needs to be non controversial but these crooks want a protection officer for their crimes.

 

[the Great Khan]

And apparently IK is the stubborn one. Kaptaan showed that for the sake of the country, the Army chief needs to be non controversial but these crooks want a protection officer for their crimes.

Right till the last he was willing to compromise..why don't these stupid food understand. Khan is the compromise candidate. The next one won't be. He is probably a young angry activist right now. In a few years he will be an mp. Then he will show these people what will is all about. They need to compromise now to save themselves and the country and the region..

 

[JaDed]

I don’t get it, so who actually appoints the Army Chief in real?

Also Pakistan in noway should ever risk extension of an Army Chief anymore for next 30 years.

 

[daytrader]

PTI insists it favours no one for top army appointment

PESHAWAR: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa president Pervez Khattak on Monday said his party had no favourites among military generals for appointment as the next Pakistan Army chief.

Addressing a news conference along with former National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser, Mr Khattak said there was a laid-down procedure for the filling of the top Pakistan Army post and the PTI neither favoured anyone for it nor had its current anti-government march on Islamabad anything to do with that appointment.

Without naming names, he said the PTI had clearly conveyed to ‘them’ that it didn’t have any objection about any candidate for the army chief’s slot.

“We have no objection to any nomination under the existing system. A military general can’t be someone’s candidate. Only a fool can claim so,” he said.

Party leader Khattak says no objection to any nomination for COAS post under ‘existing system’

Mr Khattak said the Pakistan Army was an institution and no one could interfere in its affairs.

He said all Pakistan Army generals were good enough to deliver their best.

The PTI leader said the PTI had conveyed a very clear message to all about the army chief’s appointment but it was being subjected to a false propaganda.

He denied his party’s backdoor talks with the government and claimed no such dialogue was happening.

“Our party chief Imran Khan has made it clear that only the country’s president can play a role for talks,” he said.

Also read: Who will be the next army chief?

Mr Khattak said his party’s KP chapter had made elaborate arrangements for activities and supporters to join the ongoing ‘long march’ on Islamabad.

He said the PTI workers from Peshawar, Malakand and Hazara divisions would gather in Taxila on Nov 4, while the residents of the province’s southern belt would make it to the outskirts of federal capital via the Hakla Motorway and they all would gather there.

The PTI leader said his party had never talked about guns and had also issued clear directions to its workers that there won’t be any gun violence, as they were fighting for Pakistan.

“We [PTI workers] are democratic people. No one can stop us from protesting for our own country,” he said.

Mr Khattak said it violated the basic principle of democracy to baton-charge and fire tear gas on the people, who exercised their right to assemble and protest.

He said the PTI’s Azadi March was peaceful and its participants won’t do anything illegal or extra-constitutional.

The PTI leader accused the interior minister of threatening marchers with violence.

“An interior minister should speak in a legal way. If we [marchers] act illegally and unconstitutionally, only then the government can take action,” he said.

Mr Khattak said neither the PTI nor the people accepted the ‘imported’ federal government.

He said the parties ruling the centre had destroyed the country and that instead of introducing reforms, they were legislating for the disposal of their corruption cases pending with the courts.

“Our [PM Imran Khan-led government’s] hands were tied for three and a half years,” he said.

On the occasion, Mr Qaiser said member parties of the federal government had planned street protests for Nov 4 as they wanted a clash with the PTI, which had announced the long march participants would be peaceful.

“I warn them [PDM parties] that they will be responsible for any loss of life due to their protest. I condemn the PDM’s protest call,” he said.

DAWN

 

[daytrader]

Key military appointments at appropriate time: PM Shehbaz Sharif
PM Shehbaz is not in a hurry to make topmost military appointments and has said that the decision will be taken at an appropriate time

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is not in a hurry to make topmost military appointments and has said that the decision will be taken at an appropriate time.

Talking to The News, the premier said that no decision has been taken so far as to who would be the new Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) and the Chief of the Army Staff (COAS).

It was also learnt that the military authorities have not yet moved the summary containing a panel of three-star Generals for the topmost military appointments. It is the PM’s discretion to appoint the CJCSC and COAS. Generally, the process of initiating the summary for the prime minister, containing the panel, starts in the second half of November unless the PM wants the panel early.

However, the issue of these appointments is informally discussed among the ruling PMLN and its coalition partners. Though the PM is the competent authority, he can consult anyone for these appointments. In the present situation, it is said the premier’s consultation with Nawaz Sharif appears to be really important.

Before announcing the appointment, the PM is also expected to take into confidence his key coalition partners. According to a PMLN source, unlike the past, the prime minister may have more emphasis on seniority. Though not mandatory,the prime minister may also informally seek the outgoing army chief’s advice.

A senior journalist in a recent tweet suggested that the name of a top lieutenant general would not be considered for promotion and appointment because of his retirement date falling just a couple of days before November 29. However, defence sources, when approached, confided to The News that at the time of initiating the summary for the topmost appointments, names of all the most senior general officers are included in the panel and the the premier can appoint anyone of them to the key military posts. Generally, three officers are considered for one post.

In order of seniority, the following six officers are expected to be considered for the top military appointments: Lt Gen Asim Munir, Lt Gen Sahir Shamshad Mirza, Lt Gen Azhar Abbas, Lt Gen Nauman Mehmood, Lt Gen Faiz Hamid and Lt Gen Mohammad Amir.

These appointments always attract a lot of focus and attention from the media, politicians and civil and military bureaucracy. However, this time Imran Khan’s repeated statements demanding deferment of these appointments until the next elections generated controversy. Khan had suggested extending the tenure of COAS Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa till the next election.

Khan was of the view that these appointments should be made by the future PM. He had said the present government has no right to make these appointments. Strangely, President Arif Alvi also talked about consultation between the government and opposition for these appointments.

Not only that Gen Bajwa declined to continue beyond November 29, the PM and his coalition partners also rejected demands of Imran Khan and President Alvi and insisted that as per the law and Constitution, it is the discretion of the prime minister to make these appointments.

Of late, the DG ISI in his press conference had disclosed that Imran Khan, during his premiership in March this year, had offered an extension to General Bajwa for an indefinite period to save his government from the opposition’s no-trust move. Gen Bajwa had rejected the offer and refused to interfere in political wheeling and dealing.

The News PK

 

[daytrader]

Imran’s candid take on ‘bad romance’ with military

• PTI chief claims Gen Bajwa wanted him to appoint Aleem Khan as Punjab CM
• Says military controls NAB to manipulate corrupt politicians; disputes impression that Gen Faiz is ‘his man’
• Blames GHQ for resisting introduction of EVMs ‘as they make rigging impossible’

There are at least three dozen personnel from the provincial police force stationed on the narrow lane leading to Imran Khan’s Zaman Park residence these days. But inside, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman cuts a lonely figure.

Gone are the days when the Tareens, Aleem Khans and other political bigwigs were his gatekeepers, making him unreachable. On Tuesday, other than lawyer Aitzaz Ahsan, who was escorted to the gate by Fawad Chaudhry after paying Mr Khan a visit, not a single face from the 2018 election coterie or the PTI’s ‘usual suspects’ was at the scene.

Lawyers, journalists and security officials came and went, but only when cleared by Mr Khan’s personal security officer. No phones were allowed. His security, it was apparent, was serious business. After all, just days ago, Mr Khan was targeted by a gunman.

“I am relieved to be alive,” Mr Khan said, in an exclusive conversation with Dawn.

It was surprising to see Mr Khan, who usually cuts a towering figure, hunched over a walker, and taking laboured steps to his sofa. His bandaged leg, where bullets had chipped part of his tibia, rested on a plush futon. One would think that the attack had shaken him. But Mr Khan was aggressive.

He did not shy away from addressing the elephant in the room: his bad romance with the military establishment.

Although many of his followers now see him as a born-again democrat who wants to rewrite the rules of engagement between the military and the civilian government, it is clear that he has faith in the institution’s power and influence, and believes that — within certain limits — positive working dynamics can produce great results. But three years into his government, he said, their relationship went sour.

“I always imagined that, because the army is so powerful and organised, when I would try to bring rule of law in the country, they would play an important part,” Mr Khan said.

He repeated the mantras that formed the backbone of his 2018 election campaign and were the main obsession of his government: accountability of mafias; bringing the elite to task; ending corruption.

But he rued that the National Accountability Bureau was not in his control. “NAB was controlled by the army. I couldn’t do anything. They would say, ‘yes there are cases, we are working on it’. But nothing would happen. I discovered that, actually, the establishment controlled NAB and proceeded as it wanted… it was to control politicians by having files about their corruption. They would squeeze someone, but then he would be out on bail.”

Beginning of the end

Asked when it all started to go wrong between him and the army, Mr Khan said that his government’s failure to convict those whom he alleged of corruption was the first sign.

The second, Mr Khan said, was the choice of Punjab chief minister.

“The army chief wanted me to have Aleem Khan [as CM Punjab] and I wouldn’t. Because not only were there NAB cases against him, he had occupied and sold land worth millions belonging to the government.”

When asked why he included Aleem Khan in his party if he suspected wrongdoing, Mr Khan said, “We always thought they were just allegations. And he defended himself. But when I asked the vice chairman of the LDA [about Aleem], he showed me on a map how Aleem Khan had occupied government land. This was around the end of my second year, and beginning of the third of my government.”

Mr Khan is unequivocal that, until the time that Gen Bajwa asked him to make Aleem Khan the chief minister, the relationship was going swimmingly.

“They were organised, you could get their help, we were on the same page regarding foreign policy. It was just the last six months, the issue of them making deals with these crooks when they should be behind bars…”

To emphasise his point about the military’s influence over accountability cases, Mr Khan said, “The army was going after these people before I came to power. 95 per cent of these cases preceded my government. The Nawaz Sharif case, the Avenfield case… he would not have got convicted had the army not provided the two brigadiers in the JITs — that was before me.”

Though Mr Khan points to the NAB inaction and Punjab CM issues as the main sticking points between him and the army, many speculate that it was actually his differences with the army chief over the appointment of the new DG ISI that marked the unraveling of the relationship.

“Look, I don’t know the internal politics of the army. All I know is our relationship was going well. Later, I discovered there was a big issue going on about the next army chief. I had never ever thought about who the army chief would be in November — why would I care, if it’s on merit? It should be the best person. It matters to the Sharifs and Zardari… but not to me.”

‘His man’

But what about the perception that General Faiz Hamid was ‘his man’?

“Gen Faiz was the only general I knew, because he was working with me as the ISI chief… and I didn’t know anyone else. I told Gen Bajwa ‘I will take your recommendations because I don’t know the other guys’, but at the time my worry was Afghanistan. I feared it would go into civil war. And I felt Americans would blame us and we would be sanctioned. Ashraf Ghani told me there are 300,000 Afghan soldiers and they will be outnumbered. Not just Ashraf Ghani, ISI was telling us there will be civil war [in Afghanistan]. I wanted Gen Faiz to stay till the winter till the transition happened.”

Despite allegations that the 2018 elections were rigged, his opponents jailed or disqualified and sections of the media provided enthusiastic support, Mr Khan insists the establishment did not help him come to power. According to Mr Khan, he won because of his popularity, not because he was the military’s darling.

“The army did not back me in the 2018 election. I believe we won freely and fairly,” he said.

To illustrate his point, Mr Khan added, “Since I have been out of power in the last six months, out of 37 by-elections I have won 29. The establishment is openly supporting [my opponents], the government machinery is supporting them. Even the election commission is supporting them — despite that we have won 29 out of 37.”

Rigging blues

On elections and rigging, Mr Khan said his efforts to introduce electronic voting machines (EVMs) for the next elections were also resisted by the military.

“For two years, I tried to get EVMs. Rigging disappears when you have EVMs because all the rigging takes place after polling ends. It was resisted by both main parties because they have fake votes in most constituencies. It was resisted by the establishment, because then when it comes to manipulation, that’s the time to do it [during vote count]. Remember when Gen Bajwa said he got that call from Khawaja Asif asking for help when he was losing? The next day he won.”

When reminded that the allegations against his party’s victory in the last election were the very same, he said. “We lost 17 seats with less than a 3,000 vote margin… if they [establishment] wanted to help they could easily get those seats.”

He acknowledges that his razor thin majority was one of his biggest challenges, and, if he faced the same situation again, he would “never take government”.

“We didn’t have the power. This time, if I ever come, I will not take government if I don’t have majority and can’t make a difference. If you have a coalition, a thin majority, and are being blackmailed by your own people… it’s impossible [to govern]. That’s when the army’s role became more prominent, because we needed their help and we were working together for the same cause.”

So is he happy for the military to wield influence as long as it does as he says? “It would be idealistic to completely remove their role,” Mr Khan said.

“They have been in power for so many years, but there needs to be a balance. To think the army will be shunted out of politics is not possible. Using their constructive power can get this country out of institutional collapse.”

DAWN

 

[daytrader]

ISPR puts to rest COAS extension rumours
Military’s media wing issues statement calling army chief’s recent appearances at garrisons as 'farewell visits'

ISLAMABAD:
The army on Thursday put to rest all speculations of yet another extension for the incumbent chief, as its official media wing confirmed that General Qamar Javed Bajwa has kicked off farewell visits.

"General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) visited Sialkot and Mangla garrisons as part of his farewell visits to various formations," read a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

Despite the chief military spokesperson having already confirmed that General Bajwa will not be seeking another extension, speculations regarding the incumbent chief staying on were rife in recent weeks.

There were rumours that General Bajwa will be given a short extension, while vice chief of army staff will be appointed.

However, the ISPR’s latest statement made it abundantly clear that the incumbent COAS will formally take off his uniform on November 29.

This will end his six-year tenure, during which Pakistan saw many developments, both on the internal and external fronts.

With the army officially confirming General Bajwa’s retirement date, all eyes are now on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif concerning his choice of officer for the coveted slot.

It is expected that a summary carrying the names of potential candidates for the top job will likely be moved about a week before General Bajwa’s retirement.

However, given past practice, the formal announcement of the new chief will likely be made closer to his retirement date. Nevertheless, some officials claim that there was a possibility of the new chief being announced sooner rather than later.

Meanwhile, the ISPR said the army chief met officers and men at two garrisons and addressed the troops.

He appreciated formations for their excellent performance during various operations, training and natural calamities. The COAS advised troops to keep serving the nation with the same zeal and commitment no matter what the circumstances.

Earlier, on arrival in Sialkot, the COAS was received by Lieutenant General Muhammad Aamer and by Lieutenant General Ayman Bilal Safdar at Mangla garrison.

Express Tribune

 

[daytrader]

Minister ‘confirms’ plans to amend army act

• Former defence secretary says proposed law seems tailored to army chief
• Govt already able to ‘retain’ retiring officers of Lt-Gen rank and below, as evident from Shuja Pasha’s extension

ISLAMABAD: Even though Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Wednesday attempted to downplay the debate on a leaked proposal to amend the army act, the revelation has laid bare the ongoing behind-the-scenes power struggle, ahead of the impending appo*intment of a new army chief.

The wide-ranging amendments proposed in the ******tan Army Act (PAA) 1952 pertain to an array of subjects rel*a*ted to the army’s functioning, structure, command, and terms and conditions of service.

However, amendments to Sec*tion 176 are currently the centre of attention, especially the insertion of the words “ret*e*ntion” and “resignation” in sub-section 2(a) of the same clause.

A casual reading of this specific amendment in the current scenario, wherein one of the contenders for the coveted post is scheduled to retire a couple of days before the chief’s position falls vacant, would suggest that a provision is probably being created to pull up the transition in a manner where the complexity involved in making an appointment is removed.

But that may not necessarily be the case.

The amendment was originally proposed by General Headquarters, as per the Defence Ministry’s Summary for the Cabinet Committee for the disposal of Legislation Cases (CCLC) and, on the face of it, seems to be meant to achieve the goal of getting Gen Bajwa to continue.

According to a retired defence secretary, the government or any of the services can technically retain any of retiring officers of the rank of lieutenant general and below for as long as they are required, without needing any new legislation.

The former secretary, who did not want to be named, said the plan to ‘retain’ seemed to be meant for none other than the incumbent army chief.

It is clear that the positions taken by the ruling allies and the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf have made the choice of the new commander quite tricky: if one candidate is picked, there is a chance that one of the political parties may try to discredit that appointment in public.

This is something the military can ill-afford at this juncture, when some of its senior officers are facing relentless criticism in the political domain.

This is the context in which the proposal to get Gen Bajwa to continue in office until after a new government is installed, seems to have emerged. The idea is that the new government then picks who would be the next army chief.

Until a few weeks ago, PTI chief Imran Khan was a leading proponent of this idea, but even he seems to have readjusted his views on the appointment and no longer seems keen to force his opinion on the appointment process.

On Wednesday, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif contended in a tweet that the proposed amendments package was required as per the Supreme Court verdict of 2019, which had called for legislating on the tenures of the services chiefs.

Timeline

Now comes the question of how serious the government is about the legislation proposed by GHQ. The summary shows that the proposal was sent by the defence ministry to the cabinet committee, which is the first port of call for any legislative proposal, on Nov 1. Since then, more than a fortnight has passed without a meeting of the CCLC.

When contacted by Dawn on Wednesday, three key federal ministers expressed complete ignorance about the proposed legislation, indicating that it had yet to be circulated among the members of the executive body.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s sudden detour to London on his way back from Sharm el-Sheikh on Nov 8 and his extended stay there also explains the government’s reluctance to do the needful. Reports from London had, at that time, indicated that PML-N leader Mian Nawaz Sharif was averse to Gen Bajwa staying in the job.

A federal minister, on the condition of anonymity, also said that the amendments in the army act may not happen before the change of command.

The defence minister also seemed non-committal about the scope of the amendments and the timeline for legislation, saying that no major changes in the army act were being considered and whatever amendments were to be carried out, would be done in “due course”.

Gen Bajwa, who continued his farewell tour as he visited the Malir Garrison in Karachi on Wednesday, also seems to have read this. But the struggle between the government and the military on the next chief is far from over.

DAWN

 

[Varun]

It must be a coincidence that these enemies keep tweeting and hooting about Afghanistan, Iran, China and Israel. Yet barely one person from those said countries posts here.

Just saw this. Is that your defense? This is a cricket forum primarily - how would anybody from those countries end up here?

 

[daytrader]

PM Shehbaz Sharif consults PDM on army chief appointment
Allied parties have reportedly fully mandated premier to make appointment as per set procedure, traditions

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif has made consultations with the senior leadership of allied parties of the government prior to the appointment of the new army chief. The allied parties have reportedly fully mandated the premier for making the appointment as per set procedure and traditions.

Certain ministers proposed to PM Shehbaz Sharif to obtain approval from the federal cabinet about the appointment of the army chief, but the majority did not agree to it.

According to sources, Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman telephoned the prime minister to inquire about his welfare and the two leaders exchanged views on the situation in the country and appointment of the new army chief.

Sources said the Maulana threw his weight behind PM Shehbaz, saying he should appoint the new army chief as per set procedure.

Sources said majority of the ruling coalition leaders termed the army chief’s appointment an administrative and discretionary power of the prime minister. Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUIF) leadership fully authorised Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to appoint the new army chief as per his wishes.

PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari is also in Islamabad currently, and according to sources, he is likely to meet Maulana Fazlur Rehman and PM Shehbaz Sharif soon.

The federal cabinet sources said that permission was never obtained from the cabinet for appointment of an army chief in the past. This is the prerogative of the prime minister, added the sources.

Some ministers said no fingers would be pointed from any quarter if approval was obtained from the federal cabinet, because approval of any important appointment is obtained from the cabinet in the light of Supreme Court’s orders.

However, other ministers did not agree to the suggestion and stressed solely relying on the prime minister for the appointment of new chief of the army staff.

The News PK

 

[MenInG]

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chairman and former president Asif Ali Zardari on Friday said that all three-star generals are equal and fully qualified to head the army. However, he feared that if the matter of appointing the next army chief became political, it will harm the institution.

The statement comes amid debate over the appointment of the new military chief which intensified after the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the military, confirmed earlier this month that General Qamar Javed Bajwa would doff off his uniform on November 29 at the completion of his six-year tenure.

The debate is also linked to the current political stalemate stemming from former prime minister Imran Khan’s long march. Political observers are of the view that one of the objectives of Imran’s long march is to influence the army chief’s appointment though he has denied such claims.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2386970/zardari-warns-against-politicising-appointment-of-army-chief

 

[MenInG]

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Friday said the next army chief would be appointed by next week.

In an interview with Geo News show “Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath”, Asif said: “The process will start rolling on Monday and hopefully the decision of this whole matter will be before you by next week and the new army chief’s name will be revealed.”

The defence minister also lashed out at PTI chief Imran Khan for making the process controversial and casting “aspersions” on the candidates for the next army chief.

“No politician has made the kind of allegations on the army leadership as Imran Khan has.”

 

[daytrader]

President won’t stop COAS appointment summary: Qureshi
Imran has also clarified PTI has no favourites or objections to appointment of any person as army chief, says Qureshi

ISLAMABAD: President Arif Alvi will not stop the summary for the appointment of a new army chief, PTI senior leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi said, Geo News reported.

Talking to the media, he said there was no debate in the party on the issue. “Imran has also clarified that the PTI has neither any favourite nor objection to the appointment of any person as the army chief," he said.

"We have no differences with the institution or had any in the past. We do not want any rift with it in future. However, the statement of PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto about the president was uncalled for,” he added.

In a press conference last week, the PPP chairman made it clear that the country would only accept the appointment of COAS made by the prime minister, who is the only one constitutionally empowered to do so.

He said if President Dr Arif Alvi blocks the PM’s summary regarding the COAS appointment, it would need to be seen how he decides to go down in history, whether by upholding the Constitution or violating it and showing loyalty to his friend, in which case he will suffer the consequences.

“If he opts to block the PM’s summary, it will have consequences,” he said.

The press conference came before the president told his close aides that he would follow through on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's advice regarding the appointment of the next army chief, according to sources.

"I do not have the legal authority to stop the prime minister's advice; I have never interfered in the affairs of the state," President Alvi — a leader of the PTI — had stressed.

Consultation process starts today
Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has said that the name of the new army chief would come out by Tuesday or Wednesday.

Speaking during the Geo News programme "Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath", the defence minister said that the process army chief's appointment will start on Monday.

During the show, the PML-N leader said that the change of command ceremony would be held on November 29.

As the days got closer to General Qamar Javed Bajwa's retirement, before consulting the ruling partners on the crucial appointment, PM Shehbaz approached his brother, PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif regarding the decision. In a meeting in London, both the leaders agreed to appoint the military’s senior-most officer as the next army chief.

As he touched down in Pakistan after his London visit last week, the prime minister fell sick, but he has started consultations with the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) leaders for the coveted slot.

The allied parties have fully mandated the premier for making the appointment as per set procedures and traditions, sources told Online news agency.

According to them, PDM chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman telephoned the prime minister to inquire about his health. During the telephone conversation, the two leaders exchanged views on the situation in the country and the appointment of the new army chief.

Sources said Fazl threw his weight behind PM Shehbaz, saying he should appoint the new army chief as per the set procedure.

They said a majority of the ruling coalition leaders termed the army chief’s appointment an administrative and discretionary power of the prime minister.

PPP and JUI-F leadership fully authorised PM Shehbaz Sharif to appoint the new army chief as per his wishes.

The News PK