PM slams opposition over issue of Bajwa’s extension

Tariq Butt

Prime Minister Imran Khan has remained harsh on the opposition despite the need to be in harmony with them to make smooth legislation on the issue of chief of the army staff’s service and extension as directed by the Supreme Court.

A participant of a high level meeting chaired by Imran said the prime minister remained on the path of confrontation and continued “bashing” opposition leaders during the huddle. He repeated that those expecting “clash of institutions” and mafias were disappointed by the Supreme Court’s decision.

Imran did not give any specific guideline to the party leaders in the light of the court judgement and spent most of the time recalling what had happened during the three-day hearing in the army chief’s extension case.

The premier said the government would abide by the court decision, adding that the judiciary had never raised such an issue regarding the appointment and extension of the army chief.

Appreciating the work done by the government’s legal team, he said that difference of opinion is a beauty of democracy, but the legal team of the government did a remarkable job.

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said the government and the opposition would pass legislation on appointment and tenure of the army chief with consensus.

“We will make smooth legislation through consensus,” she said, adding: “Imran has formed a parliamentary committee comprising senior PTI leaders, which will deal with the issue of passage of the required legislation.”

Awan said army chief Gen Qamar Bajwa was pride of the nation and, therefore, no one, even in the opposition, would oppose his extension in service.

Asked why the prime minister was bent upon criticising the opposition even at a time when the government needed opposition’s cooperation to pass the required legislation, she said there are always political and national narratives.

She said the country was in “a state of war” and in that situation the government believed that the legislation would also be passed not only from the National Assembly where the PTI and its allies are in majority, but also from the Senate where the opposition dominates.

Awan said the amendment directed by the Supreme Court was not related to an individual, but a legal issue which should be addressed through the spirit of nationalism and patriotism.

Pakistan Army Act and military regulations will be amended to provide for extension/reappointment, tenure, salary, perks, and privileges of the chief of army staff.

“Only the army act and regulations will be change for the purpose,” Attorney General of Pakistan Anwar Mansoor Khan said when contacted on Saturday.

To a query, he posed a counter question who asked for amendments in Article 243 of the Constitution, which deals with the command of the armed forces. He made it clear that there was no need or requirement to alter this article and said that it has nothing to do with the legal gaps shortcomings that the Supreme Court pinpointed during hearings on Bajwa’s extension/reappointment.

The attorney general said that the amendments would be finalised as “we will sit together to deliberate upon them very soon.”

When asked whether the changes would be inserted in a couple of weeks, he said “before that.”

The apex court pointed out that the Constitution and the relevant laws and regulations were silent on the extension, reappointment, tenure, salary, pension, perks and privileges of the army chief. It left to the government and parliament to rectify the lacunae and remove ambiguities to avoid confusion and crisis-like situation in future and clarify the scope of Article 243.

Until now, no initiative has been taken by the government to engage the opposition parties in parleys to evolve a consensus on the proposed amendments.

If the government concluded that amendments were to be made only in the army act and regulations and not in Article 243, as the attorney general stated, a simple majority in both the Senate and National Assembly will be sufficient to pass them. However, a two-thirds majority will be mandatory for the passage of a constitutional amendment.