Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa said that he would never accept another extension and would retire in the next month.
According to the details, it is being reported that COAS Bajwa has said that he has no plans of taking another extension and will retire within the next five weeks.
Moreover, it is also being reported that COAS Bajwa said that the army will not play any role in politics.
Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa has reportedly said that Army is not involved in politics, that he will not seek an extension and will retire in 5 weeks time, as reported by Geo News quoting its sources – Gen Bajwa is set to retire on the 29th of Nov. #Pakistan
— Anas Mallick (@AnasMallick) October 21, 2022
Earlier, at a recent luncheon attended by the COAS General Bajwa at the Pakistan Embassy in Washington during his recent US trip, he had said the armed forces have distanced themselves from politics and want to stay out of it in the future as well.
Read more: Will retire on time – COAS Gen Bajwa
He also reiterated his resolve to leave after the completion of his term as the army chief this November.
Controversy surrounding COAS Bajwa’s extension
General Qamar Javed Bajwa was appointed as COAS on 29 November 2016 by the then prime minister Nawaz Sharif prime minister Sharif.
The issue of COAS Bajwa’s retirement became quite controversial in Pakistan. To clarify, rumors surfaced that COAS Bajwa – who already received an extension in August 2019 when Imran Khan was the prime minister – would ask for another extension in his tenure.
Moreover, PTI Chairman and former Prime Minister Imran Khan made quite the headlines this year – ever since he was ousted – for his remarks on the Army Chief, for instance, Imran Khan accused the incumbent government of trying to appoint a “favourite” as the next army chief in November to save their skin in corruption cases.
COAS Gen Bajwa has clarified once again that he will RETIRE in 5 weeks and will not accept any extentions.
— Hamza Azhar Salam (@HamzaAzhrSalam) October 21, 2022
Later, Imran Khan, in an interview said that the appointment of an army chief should be deferred until the next government is elected, which should then choose the new military head.
Read more: Statements against armed forces damaging: ISPR
While political figures continue to make controversial statements regarding the COAS and military, Pakistan’s Armed Forces have continued to reject the claims and asserted that COAS Bajwa will retire as soon as his term completes.