Appointing army chief is PM’s prerogative

ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet that amended Rule 255 of the Army Regulation in an emergency meeting on Tuesday approved a new summary for extension in the tenure of Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa and consigned it to the president for approval.

The federal cabinet and its allied parties have expressed complete support for extension in the service of the General.

Briefing reporters on the meeting, Federal Minister Shafqat Mahmood said the cabinet reviewed the situation after the Supreme Court verdict on extension in the service of Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa earlier in the day.

The cabinet approved an amendment to Rule 255 of the Army Regulation to assist the court.

The minister said under Article 243, it was prime minister’s prerogative to appoint the services chiefs. He said the prime minister had the prerogative to send an advice to the president on extension in service of the army chief.

The prime minister gave advice to the president under the same prerogative and the president approved the extension. Shafqat Mahmood said it was also the prime minister’s prerogative to decide if there was need for extension due to the special circumstances.

He said the prime minister sent the advice to the president due to the special prevailing circumstances, as India for the first time had crossed LoC after the Kargil episode and attacked Balakot area of Pakistan after 1971. He said serious tension and shelling at the LoC and the curfew exceeding one hundred days in the Indian Occupied Kashmir were also unusual developments. He said there was also a risk of a false flag operation by India.

The constant threats emanating from across the border also indicate special circumstances under which the summary of extension was moved.

Federal Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmad said extension in the service of Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa was the need of the hour.

He said Federal Law Minister Barrister Farogh Naseem had voluntarily tendered resignation, who will put up the government’s stance in the court along with Attorney General Anwar Mansoor Khan on the issue.

Meanwhile, Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar said Tuesday General Qamar Javed Bajwa is a successful army chief, terming the government’s move to grant him tenure extension a suitable decision.Talking to a private news channel, Asad Umar said the government clarified its position as per the country’s Constitution. He said the country’s chief executive has to take a decision on an army chief’s tenure extension under Article 243. He said the Supreme Court talked about ambiguity surrounding the extension, but there is no such thing as President Arif Alvi appointed Gen Bajwa as COAS for another three years on Prime Minister Imran Khan’s recommendation.

Asad Umar said the government would prove its stance correct in the Supreme Court. He maintained the federal cabinet approved a new summary following the apex court’s objection to the procedure adopted for Gen Bajwa’s re-appointment. He said it is imperative to respect courts, adding that they didn’t want to get sucked into a war of principles.

The minister said Indian steps and regional situation are obvious to everyone. He said if the country is not in a state of war, it is on the verge of war.