Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Special Assistant to the PM on Information and Broadcasting Firdous Ashiq Awan has said the extension of Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa is an issue of national interest and legislation on it would be made with the consensus of all the political parties in Parliament.

Speaking to a private news channel, Awan said the prime minister had constituted a committee comprising of Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Defence Minister Pervez Khattak, Leader of the House in Senate Shibli Faraz to reach out to the opposition leaders and form a consensus over the issue.

She said all the political parties would show maturity and refrain from doing politics on the matter as the country was confronting security issues.

The SAPM added the Supreme Court’s decision to give a six-month extension to the army chief, and asking the government to do legislation in the meantime had strengthened democracy and upheld the supremacy of Parliament.

She further said the COAS had helped project the soft image of Pakistan internationally, and the way he had highlighted the bloodbath being carried out by India in occupied Kashmir was unprecedented.

“He has given new hope to the Kashmiri people that their struggle for freedom would reach their logical conclusion,” Awan added.

The Supreme Court on Thursday allowed the federal government to grant a six-month extension to General Bajwa.

In its short order the apex court directed the government to bring necessary legislation within six months.