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Tag: COAS

  • ‘Na Imran Khan ka admi hona chahiye na kisi aur ka’: Imran Khan about Army chief appointment

    ‘Na Imran Khan ka admi hona chahiye na kisi aur ka’: Imran Khan about Army chief appointment

    In a press conference on Monday, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan said that the appointment of Chief of Army Staff (COAS) should be on merit.

    He stated: “Na Imran Khan ka admi hona chahiye na kisi aur ka” (COAS should neither be my man nor someone else’s.)

    He was of the view that high-profile appointments like the COAS should not be made by “criminals like Nawaz or Zardari”.

    Moreover, he claimed that his party has been “sidelined” many times despite him trying his best not to cause any harm to institutions.

    Taking a jibe at Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif, Khan said that Nawaz is scared of elections because he fears defeat.

    Imran said Nawaz is waiting for the PTI’s wave of support to diminish before elections could be held.

    Khan gives time to the government

    Khan said that he is giving some more time to the government to announce a date for elections or else he will announce the long march date, adding that preparations for the march have been completed.

    “I am giving them [government] time just for the sake of the country,” he said. “I repeat that they still have time to announce elections, and if they don’t, I will begin my march, and my preparations are almost complete.”

    He said dialogue is out of the question with the ruling elite. “There’s no negotiation with criminals. You can hold reconciliation talks with Baloch or Sindhi nationalists, but not with felons like them,” Khan added.

    Rigging in NA-237

    Imran demanded the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to hold re-election in Karachi’s NA-237 constituency which he lost on Sunday to Pakistan People’s Party (PPP)candidate. He claimed that the PPP clinched the seat in the by-poll on through “rigging”.

    He said that the government did not wish to hold elections and used floods as an excuse. “They said that there were floods. But in the constituencies where elections were held, floods did not have an effect.”

    “Sindh’s election commissioner was on the provincial government’s payroll. We reject [Malir’s] by-election and demand re-election. The PPP swung the polls to their advantage through indiscriminate rigging,” Khan alleged.

  • ‘Shameful,’ Imran slams Azam Swati’s torture

    ‘Shameful,’ Imran slams Azam Swati’s torture

    Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, reacting to party Senator Azam Swati’s arrest has said, “The custodial torture of Azam Swati over a tweet regarding NRO-2 is another shameful incident in our history.”

    “Can people be forced to respect an individual or institution through bullying and violence,” he asked in his tweet.

    “All those who not only escaped from accountability but allowed biggest criminals to come to power once again after defrauding the national treasury of billions, disgrace has been written in their destiny,” he declared.

    PTI Senator Azam Swati was arrested in the early hours of Thursday morning for tweeting against Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa.

    Speaking to reporters outside a sessions court later in the day, Swati said that he was arrested for “taking one name — of Bajwa — and that is the violation”.

    Swati tweeted, “Mr Bajwa congratulations to you and few with you. Your plan is really working and all criminals are getting free at cost of this country. With these thugs getting free, you have legitimised corruption. How you predict now the future of this country (sic).”

  • PTI Senator Azam Swati arrested for tweeting against Gen Bajwa

    PTI Senator Azam Swati arrested for tweeting against Gen Bajwa

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senator Azam Swati was arrested in the early hours of Thursday morning for tweeting against Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa.

    Swati tweeted, “Mr Bajwa congratulations to you and few with you. Your plan is really working and all criminals are getting free at cost of this country. With these thugs getting free, you have legitimised corruption. How you predict now the future of this country (sic).”

    Speaking to reporters outside a sessions court later in the day, Swati said that he was arrested for “taking one name — of Bajwa — and that is the violation”.

    When asked who arrested him, he said it was the FIA. When pressed about the case, he alleged he was tortured by “agencies”. “A parliamentarian has been unclothed,” he said. “I am telling the nation.”

    Swati’s tweet came after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his son Hamza Shehbaz were acquitted in a high-profile money laundering case yesterday.

    The first information report registered at the FIA’s Cyber Crime Reporting Centre in Islamabad, mentions that Swati tweeted with “Malafide intentions & ulterior motives” against “State Institutes of The Islamic Republic of Pakistan and its Senior Government Functionaries including Chief of The Army Staff of Pakistan Army”, reports Dawn.

    The FIR adds that such “Intimidating tweet/s of blaming and naming through Twitter account i.e., @AzamKhanSwatiPK, is a mischievous act of subversion to create a rift between personnel/s of The Armed Forces and an attempt to harm the State of Pakistan”.

    Through the aforementioned tweet, the criminal complaint says, the accused “undermined the Judicial System of the country and also attempted to seduce Army Personnel/s from their allegiance to their duties as subordinates.

    “This is calculated attempt to create hatred in the mind of people and Army Personnel/s against COAS and Pakistan Army and also created distrust towards Judicial System. In such intimidating Tweet/s, the accused Muhammad Azam Khan Swati has attempted to provoke general public and Personnel/s of Armed Forces by trying to create a feeling of ill-will among pillars of the State,” it said.

    It alleges Swati violated privacy and intimidated state institutions, by using false information, “Which is likely to incite, any officer, soldier, sailor, or Airman in the Army, Navy or Air Force of Pakistan to mutiny or otherwise disregard or fail in his duty as such and is also likely to cause fear or alarm in the public and may induce / incite anyone to commit an offence against the State or the State Institution/s or public tranquillity”.

  • ‘Not convinced there was a conspiracy’: President Dr Alvi

    ‘Not convinced there was a conspiracy’: President Dr Alvi

    President Dr Arif Alvi while discussing the infamous ‘cipher’, has said that he is not convinced that a “foreign conspiracy was hatched” against former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan.

    However, Imran Khan has claimed that the no-confidence motion against him was part of a foreign conspiracy.

    In an interview with journalist Asma Shirazi, the president stated: “I sent that letter to the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP). I am convinced that it must be probed. I am not convinced of the fact that a conspiracy was hatched.”

    Appointment of COAS:

    About the appointment of the new Chief of Army Staff (COAS) in November, the president was of the view that “broader consultation” should be held.

    Dr Alvi said that he learned through the newspaper that there’s a consultation going on in London regarding the appointment. The government should consult PTI chief Imran Khan on the matter, he said.

    He claimed that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government also consulted the Opposition when former PM Imran Khan extended the three-year term of the incumbent COAS General Bajwa in 2019.

    Importance of dialogue:

    During the interview, President Alvi stressed on the importance of “dialogue”. When asked about the speculation that he had arranged a meeting between the establishment and Imran Khan, he responded: “Meri koshish yeh hai ke logo ko bethao ke dialogue karo” (I am trying that I get people to sit down and have a dialogue).

    He said dialogue is necessary for settling political issues between the government and the Opposition. He was of the view that the people are concerned about political polarisation and one of its causes was that there are different governments in the provinces.

    ‘Khan was very disappointed’: President Alvi

    President Dr Alvi, who is also a PTI leader, talked about the party not going back to Parliament. “Imran Khan was very disappointed with the manner in which his government was ousted and on that basis, he decided not to sit in the assembly,” he told Asma Shirazi.

    However, when asked about the party’s decision of resigning from the National Assembly (NA), President Alvi said that if he had been consulted, he could have given “different advice”.

    He observed that politicians are the biggest stakeholders in the country. The president said that the army should be “neutral”. When asked that Khan says that the establishment shouldn’t be neutral, he said, “You can ask him about his views”.

    ‘Free and Fair elections’: President Alvi

    President Alvi said that in August 2023, assemblies will be dissolved, stressing that both the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) and the PTI wanted early polls in the past. “Even the Supreme Court had considered the issue of early elections and consulted politicians,” he added.

    “I am trying to evolve an understanding of these issues and I will facilitate the process. The most important issue is the holding of free and fair elections”, he said.

  • Process for appointment of next COAS will start from Oct-end or November: Khawaja Asif

    Process for appointment of next COAS will start from Oct-end or November: Khawaja Asif

    Defence Minister, Khawaja Asif, has revealed that the process for the appointment of a new Chief of Army Staff (COAS) will either start by the end of this month or the beginning of the next and that it will be done in line with the law and constitution.

    In a press conference on Wednesday (today), the minister stressed that it is the discretion of the sitting prime minister to pick any name which has been recommended by GHQ (General Headquarters).

    He stated that anyone from among the five nominated names could be appointed as the next chief of army staff. However, he pointed out that in the past, names other than the five suggested have also been chosen for the military chief’s position.

    Speaking about the appointment of the army chief on the basis of seniority, the defence minister said: “All three-star generals are eligible for this post”.

    During the conference, the minister said that the army is currently fighting against terrorism and the nation should support it.

    Taking a jibe at PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s apprehension over the appointment of COAS, Asif said that he is anxious as November is approaching.

    The present COAS, General Qamar Javed Bajwa, will be completing his extended term in November this year. He was appointed to this position in 2016.

    Recently, COAS Bajwa — who is currently in the US— reiterated his promise to leave office after completing his second three-year term in November.

  • Imran asks ‘neutrals’ who is responsible for PMO audio leaks?

    Imran asks ‘neutrals’ who is responsible for PMO audio leaks?

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Friday asked the “neutrals” — the term he uses for the military establishment — who was responsible for the security breach at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

    “I ask them [neutrals] that the audio leaks of the Prime Minister Office […] if the security of the Prime Minister Office has been breached […] this means that our enemies have our sensitive information,” Imran said in a speech at Edwardes College in Peshawar today. “Who is responsible for this,” he asked.

    “I ask the protectors today […] if robbers are looting a house, can the guards say that they are neutral? What will the residents say? That the house is being looted but the guards say they are neutral,” Imran said, claiming that Pakistan, too, was being “looted” today.

    Responding to Khan, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz said, ““The massive security breach you have done sitting in the PMO with your secretary and followers, even the biggest enemies of Pakistan couldn’t compete with it,” she tweeted.

    “A foreign-funded evil mind has been playing with the destiny of the country for the past four years and has the nerve to do that same today,” Maryam added.

    Khan’s comments come in relevance to his audio leaks related to the cipher and the foreign conspiracy.

  • ‘Elections, appointment of new COAS, Punjab govt’: Sharif brothers discuss it all in London

    ‘Elections, appointment of new COAS, Punjab govt’: Sharif brothers discuss it all in London

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif held a meeting with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo, Nawaz Sharif, in London on Sunday, September 18.

    According to media reports, both brothers had a thorough discussion on various matters, ranging from a time frame of general elections, to the appointment of the next army chief and to the Punjab government.

    The Sharif brothers agreed that the present coalition government will complete its constitutional term. Despite being under pressure from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to announce snap polls, PML-N leadership decided that general elections “should be held at the stipulated time”.

    Both Nawaz and Shehbaz pondered over making changes to the Punjab government, and the name of former Chief Minister Punjab and son of Shehbaz, Hamza Shehbaz, among other possible candidates, was considered for the post of the province’s chief minister. The provincial capital of Lahore has been awash with rumors of a change within Punjab parliament that could derail PTI and PML-Q coalition government.

    The matter of important appoi­nt­ments due in November also came under discussion, including the Chief of Army Staff (COAS). The current COAS, General Qamar Javed Bajwa, is due for retirement at the end of November this year.

    The Sharifs had a three-hour meeting at Hussain Nawaz’s office in Stanhope House. The meeting, the brothers’ second in London since Shehbaz became PM, was also attended by former finance minister Ishaq Dar and Shehbaz’s son Suleman.

    According to reports, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb did not participate in the meeting.

  • IK rejects his own statement suggesting COAS extension

    IK rejects his own statement suggesting COAS extension

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan rejected his own statement on Tuesday suggesting the extension of the tenure of Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa till the next elections.

    In a meeting with journalists, Khan said: “I never talked about the extension of the army chief’s tenure, I just proposed to defer the appointment of the army chief till the new elections.”

    “I did not say anything to elicit a statement from Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR)”, Khan added.

    The PTI chief also decided to call on the nation to protest against the government in September.

    PTI ❤️ ARMY or PTI ARMY: PTI former ministers clash on Bajwa

    Shireen Mazari, senior leader of PTI, took a jibe at anchor Kamran Khan, accusing him and others of misquoting Imran Khan regarding his suggestion to extend the tenure of COAS.

    “What Khan actually said on army chief and what Kamran Khan and PMLN trolls deliberately tried to misquote. The problem here is when the anchor wants to assert his own view or agenda despite IK making his position clear on the same issue. Such anchors should do monologues instead”, she said.

    Fawad Chaudhry agrees with IK’s suggestion to extend COAS tenure

    On the contrary, another senior leader of PTI, Fawad Chaudhry, took to Twitter to give approval to his party chairman Imran Khan’s suggestion to extend the COAS tenure.

    “Yesterday, Imran Khan presented a practical formula for the country’s political future and the restoration of democracy. There is a need to move forward on this formula. The economic condition of the country will not be able to bear the burden of political instability. The status quo can be maintained for the elections.” he tweeted.

    Khan ko kya hua? IK says Gen Bajwa should be given an extension till the next elections

    In an interview with Kamran Khan on Dunya News aired on Monday evening, Imran Khan suggested that the COAS, General Qamar Javed 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.”

    When Kamran Khan asked Imran Khan if he was suggesting that until a new government comes to power, Gen Bajwa should continue as army chief, Khan said the country is facing extraordinary circumstances because of floods. He was of the view that for now, the main focus should be on how to get the country out of the crisis.

    During the show, he reiterated that the appointment of a new army chief should be on merit.

    “Neither Asif Ali Zardari nor Nawaz Sharif is qualified for taking this decision on merit,” he said.

    It is pertinent to mention that COAS Qamar Javed Bajwa is due to retire in November this year.

    Speaking on general elections, Khan said, “Mai baat karnay ke liye tayyar hoon”, [I am ready to talk with the government].

    Khan confirmed meeting with former US ambassador

    Imran Khan confirmed that he met with former American ambassador and CIA analyst Robin Raphel. He said, “She is not associated with the government, but is working with a think tank”, adding that Pak-US relations should be good.

    However, earlier PTI had denied that the meeting took place. Fawad Chaudhry had categorically said that the meeting between Khan and Raphel took place three years ago.

    During the show, Khan also clarified that he is not anti-America.

    The PTI chief added that his party’s relationship with the US was not tense, but tensions arose after Khan visited Russia, right on the eve of when President Vladimir Putin attacked Ukraine.

    “I didn’t know”, he stated, adding that the US was upset following its tensions with Russia.

    Since being voted out of power, Imran Khan has blamed America for the “regime change”, while also attacking the establishment in thinly veiled words for turning “neutral”.

  • ‘Enough is enough’: Khan to reply to ‘PDM crooks’ at 5pm today

    ‘Enough is enough’: Khan to reply to ‘PDM crooks’ at 5pm today

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has said that he has had enough of the Pakistan Democratic Movement’s (PDM) “cabal of crooks” who are trying to launch propaganda against him.

    Khan on September 4, alleged that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif and Zardari wanted to appoint their favourite as Chief of Army Staff (COAS) because if a “strong and patriotic army chief” was appointed, they would be questioned about their corruption.

    In a tweet, the PTI chairman said, “Am following intense propaganda launched by PDM cabal of crooks against me.This stems from their being petrified of PTI’s soaring popularity.”

    “Today in Peshawar jalsa I will give proper reply to all those who have deliberately been distorting my words to malign me. Enough is enough,” said Khan.

    Pakistani Army on Monday, August 5, expressed extreme displeasure over Khan’s recent statement against the establishment and said that the institution was “aghast” over it.

    Read more: ‘Disappointing’, Pak Army says Khan should not ‘scandalise’ Army Chief selection

    “Pakistan Army is aghast at the defamatory and uncalled for statement about the senior leadership of Pakistan Army by Chairman PTI during a political rally at Faisalabad. Regrettably, an attempt has been made to discredit and undermine senior leadership of Pakistan Army at a time when the institution is laying lives for the security and safety of the people of Pakistan every day,” said the military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

  • ‘Imran Khan apne bayaan ki khud wazahat karein ke in ka kya maqsad tha’: President Alvi

    ‘Imran Khan apne bayaan ki khud wazahat karein ke in ka kya maqsad tha’: President Alvi

    President of Pakistan, Dr Arif Alvi has said that the chairman of his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan “apne bayaan ki khud wazahat karey ke in ka kya maqsad tha”. (Imran Khan should himself clarify what he meant.)

    While talking to media at Governor House in Peshawar, Alvi stressed that all soldiers including the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) are patriots. He said that Pakistan Army is busy in helping flood affectees of the country and no one can doubt their patriotism.

    “Including the incumbent government, every institution is patriotic”, the President added.

    Alvi claimed that he is trying to clear all the misunderstandings between the stakeholders.

    Addressing a jalsa in Faislabad on Sunday, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan alleged that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif and Pakistan People’s Party co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari wanted to appoint their favourite as COAS because if a “strong and patriotic army chief” was appointed, they would be questioned about their corruption.

    “The army chief of this country should be appointed on merit. The one who is on merit should become the next army chief,” said Khan.

    It is pertinent to mention that Khan drew fire from government leaders over his remarks about the appointment of the next chief of army staff. PTI leaders have been trying to clarify their chairman’s remarks.

    Former Human Rights Minister and PTI leader Shireen Mazari called Nawaz and Zardari “criminals”. She said, “Chairman PTI’s statement was about merit & merit in the selection of COAS cannot be made by two criminals whose only priority is to save their billions stashed abroad and who have zero credibility. Remember DawnLeaks & Memogate?”

    Fawad Chaudhry denied the fact that Khan called the army unpatriotic.

    He said, “As far as I remember, Imran Khan did not mention unpatriotic, every general and Pakistani citizen is a patriot. Imran Khan talked about appointment on merit. Anyway, this is a political matter, not a judicial one. Commenting on the topic is inappropriate.”

    Irked by Imran Khan’s recent remarks about the appointment of a new COAS, the Chief Justice (CJ) of Islamabad High Court (IHC) Athar Minallah minced no words.

    “Did you hear Imran Khan’s speech from yesterday,” the Chief Justice asked the former prime minister’s lawyer on Monday. “Do political leaders deliver such speeches? Will everything be put at stake just for the sake of “game of thrones?” The honourable judge asked during the hearing of a petition filed by the PTI against a ban imposed by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) on the live telecast of the speeches of Khan.

    Pakistani Army also expressed extreme displeasure over Imran Khan’s recent statement against the establishment and said that the institution was “aghast” over it.