The federal government on Wednesday drafted a new summary regarding the extension of Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa in the light of observations made by the Supreme Court regarding procedural flaws in the making of the previous drafts while hearing the matter earlier in the day, a private TV channel reported.
The summary was made in an emergency session under Prime Minister Imran Khan, where the army chief was himself present along with senior cabinet members, legal team and former law minister Farogh Naseem.
Reports said that consultation was held over the apex court hearing on the issue of army chief’s extension and the questions raised by the bench were discussed in the meeting.
The government’s legal team briefed Prime Minister Imran Khan and the cabinet members over objections raised by the apex court during the hearing.
Reports said the legal team helped in making a new summary and even the army chief was consulted over that. In the new summary, the word ‘appointment’ has reportedly been exchanged with ‘extension’, keeping in view the objections raised by the apex court. The summary, the third such draft prepared by the government, will be presented to the top court today after formal approval by the federal government.
Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Education Minister Shafqat Mehmood, Defence Minister Pervez Khattak, Planning and Development Minister Asad Umar and Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari among other PTI leaders attended the meeting. Gen Qamar’s counsel and former law minister Farogh Naseem, Attorney General Anwar Mansoor Khan, senior PTI leader and legal expert Babar Awan as well as law secretary were also present.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran has convened the PTI parliamentary party’s meeting at 6pm today. “Political, economic and security situation will be discussed at the meeting,” reports said. All parliamentarians have been directed to ensure their presence at the meeting.
In a rare move, the top court on Tuesday had suspended until Wednesday a government notification of reappointment of General Qamar, who was due to retire on November 29, for another three-year term.
According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office on November 21, the notification for General Qamar’s reappointment was issued on August 19, which said that he will continue to serve as the COAS until November 2022.
