Current Final

Tag: COAS

  • Ishaq Dar takes notice of ‘illegal, unwarranted’ leak of Gen Bajwa’s family’s tax records

    Ishaq Dar takes notice of ‘illegal, unwarranted’ leak of Gen Bajwa’s family’s tax records

    Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on Monday took notice of the “illegal and unwarranted” leakage of tax information of Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa’s family members.

    An official statement from the Finance Division states, “This is clearly a violation of the complete confidentiality of tax information that the law provides.”

    This statement comes a day after a report by investigative news website FactFocus, which cited alleged tax returns and wealth statements, claimed that the COAS’ family had amassed billions of rupees in the last six years.

    “In view of this serious lapse on the part of to-date unknown functionaries, the finance minister has directed the Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Revenue, Tariq Mehmood Pasha, to personally lead an immediate investigation into the violation of tax law[s] and breach of Federal Board of Revnue (FBR) data, affix responsibility and submit a report within 24 hours,” the handout said.

    According to the FactFocus report, the current market value of the known assets and businesses of the army chief, both within and outside Pakistan, amounted to Rs12.7 billion.

    The report also shared the alleged wealth statements of Gen Bajwa and his family from 2013 to 2021.

    According to the publication, it was unable to obtain data about assets in the name of Gen Bajwa’s two sons.

    FactFocus has claimed that after the publication of the story, the traffic on its site was “disrupted” and the website had been “banned”.

  • Name of new COAS will be revealed by Tuesday or Wednesday, says Khawaja Asif

    Name of new COAS will be revealed by Tuesday or Wednesday, says Khawaja Asif

    Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has said that the name of the new Chief of Army Staff (COAS) will be revealed by Tuesday or Wednesday.


    Discussing the all-important appointment on Geo News’ programme “Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath”, the defence minister said that the process to appoint a new head of the armed forces would start on Monday.

    During the show, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader said that the change of command ceremony would be held on November 29. He also predicted that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) long march would suffer a severe blow the day the appointment decision was finalised.

    COAS General Qamar Javed Bajwa, the incumbent army chief, is set to retire later this month. On multiple instances, he has ruled out an extension in his tenure — and so has the military.

    Meanwhile, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah has said the matter of the next army chief’s appointment would be settled in a day or two.

    “I believe the Prime Minister has completed this process (of consultation) and will bring it to paper, today or tomorrow or the next two days, [it] takes no time,” he said.

    “I will also request you that this is a matter of a day or two so don’t ask questions which can lead to unnecessary speculation,” he said, adding that “there is not a lot of time left to this decision and it will come before you.”

  • ‘Long march mein aanay walay logon se ziada mere mulaazim hain’: Faisal Vawda

    ‘Long march mein aanay walay logon se ziada mere mulaazim hain’: Faisal Vawda

    Former Senator of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Faisal Vawda has said that his party’s ongoing long march is sparsely attended, remarking that, “Long march mein aanay walay logon se ziada mere mulaazim hain,” (I have more employees than the number of people who attend the long march).

    During Samaa News‘ show ‘Nadeem Malik Live’, Vawda criticised his former party members without naming them, calling them “snakes”. He said that these leaders claimed that there would be hundreds of thousands of people participating in the long march. “Jitny log long march main a rahy hain is se zyada toh school ke bachay assembly mei hotay hain,” (More children attend school assembly than the number of people attending the long march).

    Vawda confirmed the meeting between PTI Chief Imran Khan and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Qamar Javed Bajwa at the President’s House.

    “I helped in arranging that meeting. There were misunderstandings between the two parties but the meeting went well.”

    He claimed that PTI is popular among the people right now, however, he raised questions about why the party is carrying out the long march.

    Last month, Vawda had predicted that PTI’s march would be a bloody one. After that, the former ruling party terminated Vawda’s basic membership.

    PTI said that he would not be allowed to hold any party office or represent the party in the media as he had “grossly violated discipline by giving statements against party policies and guidelines”.

  • Khawaja Asif says PM Shehbaz didn’t consult Nawaz on COAS appointment

    Khawaja Asif says PM Shehbaz didn’t consult Nawaz on COAS appointment

    Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said that no decision regarding the appointment of Chief of Army Staff (COAS) has been made as yet.

    When asked if Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif was not being consulted on the matter, the minister said: “Consultations have not yet taken place on the army chief’s appointment. These are just newspaper reports”, reports Geo News.

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has just returned home from Britain after having several meetings with his brother Nawaz. It was being widely reported that the two brothers were holding consultations on who should be the next head of the armed forces.

    Speaking with journalists outside the National Assembly, Khwaja Asif said: “The prime minister has discretion regarding the appointment of the COAS; therefore, he will make the decision on the appointment.”

    Responding to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s interview with Financial Times where he said he “no longer blamed the US” and wants “dignified” ties with the country if he comes back to power, Asif sarcastically asked if this was the first time Khan was taking back his words.

    “He turns away from everything, how many things have been said in the last four years? Has Imran Khan stood by anything he says,” the minister asked.

  • All eyes on the COAS appointment as Gen Bajwa and President Alvi arrive in Lahore

    All eyes on the COAS appointment as Gen Bajwa and President Alvi arrive in Lahore

    President Dr Arif Alvi and Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa were in Lahore on Friday night as speculations ran rife on who will be appointed the new army chief. It is pertinent to mention here that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman is also in Lahore, recuperating from surgeries at his home in Zaman Park.

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif will soon return from London after consulting his elder brother and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz supremo Nawaz Sharif on the political quagmire in the country and the appointment of a new army chief.

    According to news reports, President Alvi has emerged as the leading figure in the army’s ongoing “backchannel talks” with PTI. He has already facilitated at least one direct meeting between Gen Bajwa and Khan at the Presidency.

    In an interview on Geo News’ programme “Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath”, PPP leader Qamar Zaman Kaira — whose party also holds an important position in the ruling alliance — said merit would determine who becomes the next army chief.

    “The [government] will appoint the next army chief from among the top-five senior generals,” Kaira said and mentioned that PM Shehbaz would return to Pakistan and deliberate over the matter with members of the government and PDM chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman.

    Lashing out at Khan, Kaira said the person against whom Khan had reservations was the same man with whom he spent four years in power.

    Earlier this week, PM Shehbaz and Nawaz Sharif agreed not to succumb to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) pressure, especially on Khan’s key demand for early elections.

    The Premier had a meeting that lasted for over three hours with his elder brother. Reportedly, Nawaz told Shehbaz to “continue doing his best to take Pakistan out of the economic crisis” and “not succumb to any kind of pressure”.

    Meanwhile, Khan has also reiterated his stance on appointing the army chief on “merit” and criticised PM Shehbaz for consulting Nawaz on this all-important appointment.

    During an address to participants of his party’s long march in Gujrat via video link, Khan said: “Whoever fits the merit, should be appointed the army chief.”

    “Nawaz Sharif always brings up the man who is beneficial for him,” Khan said referring to the appointment’s decision. The statement was in stark contrast to Khan’s stance of just a day earlier, as reported by Dawn, when he told journalists that, “They [government] can appoint whoever they want.”

  • Suggestions are being made to govt to let COAS Bajwa continue

    Suggestions are being made to govt to let COAS Bajwa continue

    Suggestions are being made to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the leadership of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) by “certain elements” to convince Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa to continue as the head of the armed forces, reports The News.

    According to the newspaper’s sources, a suggestion was given to the government to give an extension to the incumbent army chief, and dissolve the government so that an interim government could form which would then continue for six to seven months.

    However, it has been reported that the party has said “no” to these options. PM Shehbaz and his senior party leadership insist on completing the term of the present assemblies and holding the next elections in October-November 2023. According to the party, the appointment of the COAS is at the discretion of the Premier and key military appointments would be made as per the law and Constitution.

    It is pertinent to mention that COAS Bajwa is set to retire by the end of November, a time frame that he has reportedly verbally confirmed multiple times.

    It was also reported a few weeks ago that Imran Khan, former Prime Minister and Chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has been seeking the continuation of the incumbent army chief until the new elections are called.

    In an interview with Kamran Khan on Dunya News, Khan suggested that COAS Bajwa, be given an extension in his tenure of service.

    Talking about the possibility of appointing a new Army Chief, Khan said, “There can be a provision in relevance to the selection of the new COAS. When the next government comes, they can appoint a new COAS.”

  • I do not talk to ‘boot polishers’, Khan responds to PM Shehbaz’s claims of holding talks

    I do not talk to ‘boot polishers’, Khan responds to PM Shehbaz’s claims of holding talks

    Imran Khan, the Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), while responding to Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif’s statement about holding talks on the new army chief’s appointment, said that he does not talk to “boot polishers”.

    Shehbaz Sharif had said a day earlier that Imran Khan had sent him an invitation through a businessman acquaintance to discuss the appointment of the new Chief of Army Staff (COAS).

    “I spoke to those with whom Shehbaz speaks while hiding in the trunk of a car,” said Khan. He also questioned why he would send a message to the premier.

    Khan also said that he was not raised in a “military dictator’s nursery”.

    “I do not call Ayub Khan daddy like Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. I am not like Nawaz Sharif who build General Jilani’s home and massaged General Ziaul Haq’s knees to become a minister,” said the PTI leader.

    On the Indian media’s coverage of his attack on military officials, the PTI chief told the neighbouring country’s media that his party is standing with the army.

    “I came to power with the people’s power not because of the establishment,” claimed Khan, adding that he only seeks rule of law in the country and the protection of the people’s rights.

    Continuing his attack on the coalition government, the PTI chief said that former dictator Pervez Musharraf harmed the country by giving an NRO to these parties.

    During a meet-up with vloggers in Lahore, the Premier had said that the PTI chief approached him a month ago and wanted to settle two issues through dialogue.

    PM Shehbaz said, “The first matter was the army chief’s appointment and the second was holding elections. However, I refused,” he stated.

    The prime minister shared that Khan offered to send him three names for the Chief’s slot and sought three from him to appoint the next army chief. The Premier said that Khan told him through the intermediary, “Let’s appoint the army chief together.”

    “I sent a message to him [Khan] that is a constitutional duty that the prime minister has to perform,” said PM Shehbaz.

  • ‘DG ISI presser more political than Sheikh Rasheed; Khan responds to the establishment, says they’re defaming COAS

    ‘DG ISI presser more political than Sheikh Rasheed; Khan responds to the establishment, says they’re defaming COAS

    Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, said on Friday that the joint press conference by Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Lt Gen Nadeem Ahmed Anjum and Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) DG Lt Gen Babar Iftikhar held a day earlier was more “political than Sheikh Rasheed”.

    Addressing the head of the ISI who made an unprecedented appearance at the press conference on Thursday, Imran Khan said, “You say you are not political, but your presser was more political than that of Sheikh Rasheed.”

    “DG ISI, listen carefully, the things I know…I am staying silent for my institutions and the country. I don’t want to damage my country,” Khan said as the crowd cheered.

    “DG ISI, when we criticise [the institutions], it is constructive and for your betterment. I am saying this again, I can say a lot and can respond to you. But I don’t want the institutions to get weak,” he stressed.

    Addressing the DG’s statement that Imran Khan had met the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) in secret, the former prime minister said that he never made any unconstitutional demands during “backdoor contacts”.

    “I want free and fair elections. I want the people to decide who will lead the country — not Washington, America, or anyone else,” Khan added.

    Khan then addressed General Bajwa and said: “When Bilawal Bhutto gave a statement against the ISI sector commander in Karachi, you removed him. Remove them [Faisal and Faheem] too now.” PTI leader Azam Swati earlier today revealed in a presser the names of the military officers [Faisal and Faheem] allegedly responsible for his custodial torture.

    “These people are defaming you, Gen Bajwa,” Khan claimed.

  • ‘Institutional desire to transition must be encouraged’: Bilawal on DG ISI’s conference

    ‘Institutional desire to transition must be encouraged’: Bilawal on DG ISI’s conference

    Foreign Minister (FM) Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari commented on the explosive first-ever press conference of Director General (DG) Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lieutenant (Lt) Gen Nadeem Ahmed Anjum.

    On his official Twitter handle, the foreign minister said that the press conference is “unprecedented and historic”, saying that his party has struggled for this for three generations.

    “Transition of establishment from controversial to the constitutional role is vital for Pakistan’s progress and prosperity. PPP has struggled for this for three generations. Press conference by DGISI and ISPR is unprecedented and historic. Institutional desire to transition must be encouraged,” Bilawal said.

    Similarly, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah also commented on the rare appearance of Lt Gen Nadeem Ahmed Anjum, saying that this clearly conveyed to the nation that the institution intended to work within its constitutional limits.

    “The nation is witness to the institution’s decision to keep in its jurisdiction,” the interior minister added.

    Earlier in the day, a joint press conference by Lt Gen Nadeem Ahmed Anjum and DG of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Babar Iftikhar was held in Islamabad to talk about journalist Arshad Sharif’s killing and former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s confrontational narrative against the military.

    The ISI chief said, “The military has been under a lot of pressure since March but they decided to limit themselves to its constitutional role.”

    Lt Gen Anjum also made the revelation that in March, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa was given a “lucrative offer” for an extension in his tenure by Imran Khan. “The offer was made in front of me. He rejected it because he wanted the institution to move forward from a controversial role to a constitutional role.”

    He said that he would have addressed the media earlier if it was for personal reasons. “Those sacrificing their lives should not have to face these lies. Hence, remaining silent was morally unacceptable to me,” he firmly stated.

  • ‘Cipher, Arshad Sharif, Khan’s hidden meetings with COAS’: History’s first joint DG ISI and Army press conference

    ‘Cipher, Arshad Sharif, Khan’s hidden meetings with COAS’: History’s first joint DG ISI and Army press conference

    In a historic press conference held on Thursday, the Director General (DG) Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Lieutenant General Nadeem Anjum addressed media for the first time, accompanied by the DG of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) DG Major General Babar Iftikhar. The two top ranking officers of the armed services spoke about journalist Arshad Sharif’s killing and former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s confrontational narrative against the military, his hidden meetings with Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa, foreign conspiracy, Washington cipher as well as a host of other related topics.

    DG ISPR says Imran Khan’s cipher and US regime change narrative is a complete pack of lies

    Talking about the cipher, General Iftikhar said that the COAS had discussed the contents of the document with Imran on March 11 where the then-Prime Minister had dismissed it as, “not a big deal”.

    “It was surprising for us when on March 27 a piece of paper was waved and an attempt was made to build a narrative that was far from reality,” the DG said, referring to Imran Khan’s rally where he first unveiled the ‘conspiracy’ crafted by America to oust his government.

    General Iftikhar then said that several facts had come to light regarding the cypher revealing the “baseless and unfounded” narrative surrounding it. The ISPR informed the National Security Committee that no proof was found regarding the conspiracy against the PTI government, he said, adding that the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) also did not find any evidence of the conspiracy.

    “This is all part of the record. We wanted to bring this to the public. And we left the decision to the-then government,” he stated.

    “The word neutral and apolitical was turned into an abuse”

    Gen Iftikhar stated that it was being expected that the army would intervene in domestic politics. “The words neutral and apolitical were turned into an abuse words. Despite this baseless narrative, the army chief and the institution showed restraint and we tried our level best that politicians sit together to resolve their issues.”

    ARY News played the role of a spin doctor 

    “In this media trial, ARY News played the role of a spin doctor in targeting the army and promoting a false narrative […] the NSC meeting was presented in the wrong context,” said Gen Iftikhar. He noted that Arshad Sharif made strong comments about the army during this time but added that “We did not have any negative sentiments about him and we don’t have such feelings now”.

    At this time, Sharif and other journalists were fed a particular narrative and an attempt was made to defame Pakistan and the country’s institutions across the world, he revealed.

    ‘Salman Iqbal should be brought back’

    The DG ISPR went on to say that the name of the ARY CEO Salman Iqbal was surfacing again and again in the incident that ended in Arshad Sharif’s killing. “He should be brought back to Pakistan and made part of the probe,” the DG said without mincing his words.

    He said that after Sharif’s death, people had started pointing fingers at the army. “It has to be determined who exactly benefitted from his killing.,” General Iftikhar said, asking the large number of journalists gathered there to unearth facts and bring them to life. “We have to wait for the report from the inquiry commission. Until the report is released, it is not appropriate to make allegations,” he cautioned.

    Details of Arshad Sharif’s departure

    Offering more details of the circumstances of Arshad Shrif’s departure from Pakistan, Babr Iftikhar said that on August 8 2022,  ARY News aired Shehbaz Gill’s controversial statements about the army’s rank and file. The statement was roundly condemned, and Gill, the Chief of Staff for Imran Khan, was arrested a day later.

    He said that when the head of ARY News, Ammad Yousaf,  was arrested in August, it emerged that CEO Salman Iqbal had asked the former to send Sharif abroad as soon as possible.

    The DG ISPR stated that a manager in the ARY Group booked a ticket for Sharif for Dubai, according to which he was supposed to be back on September 9.

    “On Aug 10, he left Peshawar airport thorough PK-637 for Dubai. He was provided complete protocol by the KP government,” he said, adding that the late journalist was escorted by KP officers to the airport.” The institutions never tried to stop Arshad Sharif, if the government wanted to stop him they would have done it through FIA.

    Stating that Arshad remained in the UAE until he had a valid visa, the DG said that the late journalist left for Kenya when his visa for Dubai expired. He said that no one “forced” Sharif to leave Dubai at a government level and questioned who exactly forced him to leave. He also questioned who processed the journalist’s documents in the UAE, who arranged his accommodations, who forced him to not return to Pakistan and who assured him that he was safe in Kenya.

    He also questioned who was in contact with Sharif from Pakistan and who was hosting him in Kenya. “Kenyan police accepted their mistake and it has to be examined whether this is a case of mistaken identity or one of targeted killing. There are several questions that have to be answered,” he said, calling for a “transparent and fair probe”.

    Therefore, the government has been requested to form a high-level inquiry commission, he explained.

    “If you see him as a traitor, then why do you meet him through the back door?”: DG ISI

    The ISI chief also made an appearance in today’s press conference — the first time a spy chief has done so in Pakistan’s history.

    Talking about the former premier Imran, the ISI chief said that while citizens had the right to their opinion, he asked why had the Chairman of the PTI praise dthe COAS in the past.

    Referring to Imran Khan’s continued thinly veiled references directed at General Bajwa, the spy chief asked, “If you see him as a traitor, then why do you meet him through the back door? […] Don’t meet him quietly at night through the back door and express your unconstitutional wishes but call him a traitor in broad daylight. That’s a big contradiction between your words and your actions.”

    Lt Gen Anjum also made the revelation that in March, Gen Bajwa was given a “lucrative offer” for an extension in his tenure. “The offer was made in front of me. He rejected it because he wanted the institution to move forward from a controversial role to a constitutional role.”

    I did not make an appearance for personal reasons: DG ISI

    Explaining his unprecedented presence before the media, General Nadeem Anjum offered an explanation. “I would often see that lies [were being perpetuated] and the youth was accepting it. I did not make an appearance for personal reasons. I saw the way the country and institutions were facing threats due to lies which is why I broke my silence,” he said.

    “There were campaigns against me in March on social media. I got a call from the agency that a campaign was underway against me. I told them get in touch when the retweets exceed eight thousand million. Before that, I don’t care about myself,” the DG ISI explained.

    He said that he would have addressed the media earlier if it was for personal reasons. “Those sacrificing their lives should not have to face these lies. Hence, remaining silent was morally unacceptable to me,” he firmly stated.