ISLAMABAD, Nov 26:
Pakistan’s Supreme Court today suspended the three-year extension given to the powerful Army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa till tomorrow and said the entire process was “upside down”, in an embarrassment to Prime Minister Imran Khan who cited “regional security environment” for his decision to grant the top General another term in office.
The unprecedented move by the Apex Court to suspend Prime Minister Khan’s decision on August 19 could raise the tension between the judiciary and the powerful Pakistan army. It also came just three days ahead of 59-year-old Bajwa’s retirement on November 29 as the Chief of the Army Staff in his first stint.
“The entire process was upside down. First, the Cabinet should have given the approval, then the Prime minister and President should have been advised,” Geo News quoted Chief Justice Asif Saeed Khosa as saying.
Reacting to the embarrassing development, Khan chaired an emergency Cabinet meeting and took back the notification to extend services of General Bajwa.
Minister for Education Shafqat Mahmood told journalists that the Cabinet took back the earlier notification and also took measures to address the concerns of the Apex Court.
He said the Cabinet also changed the Pakistan Defence Services Rules and added word “extension” as pointed out by the Supreme Court.
“A summary was sent to the President to issue a fresh notification after approval by the Cabinet,” the Minister said.
Pakistan’s Law Minister Farogh Naseem also resigned today to represent the Government in the case regarding Bajwa’s extension in the Supreme Court.
The petition against Bajwa’s extension was filed by a person named Raiz Rahi, who later filed an application to withdraw it. However, the Chief Justice rejected his withdrawal bid and took up the petition as A Public Interest Litigation under Article 184, Pakistani media reported.
During the hearing, the Chief Justice said the Government notification on August 19 mentioned an ‘extension’ while the notification issued by the Prime Minister’s Office says the army chief has been ‘reappointed’.
“As per rules, there is no authority of extending Army chief’s tenure or his reappointment. The Government can only suspend his retirement and the Army chief has not retired yet,” Khosa said.
The Chief Justice after suspending the Government’s notification adjourned the hearing until tomorrow.
The powerful Pakistan army, which has ruled the country for more than half of its 70 plus years of existence, has wielded considerable power in deciding matters concerning security and foreign policies.
On August 19, Prime Minister Khan approved a 3-year extension to the tenure of General Bajwa, citing “regional security environment”. (PTI)
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