ISLAMABAD: Mohammad Zubair, a spokesperson for Nawaz Sharif, three-time former premier and head of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz party, has said the government would not grant an extension to Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa and would appoint a new head of the army in November this year.
Bajwa’s tenure was due to end in November 2019 but then Prime Minister Imran Khan gave him a three-year extension.
As the army chief’s tenure comes to an end this November, the question has risen once more of whether Bajwa will be granted another extension by the PML-N government, which faces severe economic challenges and growing demands by the opposition to call snap polls. Elections are scheduled in August 2023 but Khan’s party and allies are demanding early elections and a new government by October.
In the current affairs program ‘Hum Meher Bokhari Kay Sath,’ when asked if the government would grant an extension to the army chief in November, Zubair replied categorically “No.” When asked if the current government would appoint the new military chief, he added: “Inshallah,” the implication being that the PML-N would still be in power in November and would not be announcing snap polls.
In April this year, while answering questions about whether the army chief would seek a second extension, military spokesman Major General Babar Iftikhar had said: “Let me put this to rest: COAS [Chief of Army Staff] is neither seeking an extension, nor will he accept an extension. He will be retiring on time on November 29.”
Any effort by a military chief to consolidate power is widely viewed with suspicion by many in Pakistan’s political classes, who are wary of the army extending its influence further into the civilian domain.
The army has ruled Pakistan for nearly half of its history since independence in 1947 — and even during periods of civilian rule, the army has set security and foreign policy.