Daily Times

The federal cabinet on Tuesday (Nov 26) has approved the summary seeking an extension for Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa through amendment in Defence Act.

According to details, the meeting of federal cabinet presided over by Prime Minister Imran reviewed the decision of Supreme Court regarding extension of COAS Bajwa. The prime minister had called an emergency meeting of the cabinet for the second time during the day.

Briefing the newsmen on the Federal Cabinet meeting in Islamabad, Minister for Education, Shafqat Mahmood said the Cabinet reviewed the situation after the verdict of the Supreme Court regarding extension in the service of Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa. He said the Cabinet approved amendment in the Rule 255 of Army regulation to assist the court. He said the Federal Cabinet and its allied parties have expressed complete support for extension in service of Army Chief.

Shafqat Mahmood said Prime Minister has the prerogative to send advice to the President on the extension in service of the Chief of Army Staff and the Prime Minister gave advice to the President under the same prerogative and President gave the approval of extension.

Shafqat Mahmood said it is also the prerogative of the Prime Minister to decide if there is need for extension due to special circumstances. He said the Prime Minister sent advice to the President due to special prevailing circumstances as India for the first time had crossed LoC after Kargil and attacked Balakot area of Pakistan after 1971.

He said the serious tension and shelling on LoC, the curfew exceeding one hundred days in Occupied Kashmir is also unusual development. He said there is also a risk of false flag operation by India. He said the constant threats emanating from across the border also indicate to the special circumstances under which summary of extension was moved.

Earlier today, Supreme Court of Pakistan suspended the notification granting General Bajwa an extension of three years as army chief.