General Qamar Javed Bajwa, the chief of Pakistan’s army is set to retire on November 29, leaving responsibility to the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to name a new commander. Sharif seems poisoned to announce the next army chief, but it has been controversial as former Prime Minister Imran Khan asked that a new army chief should only be named after the country holds snap elections.
Khan since his ouster in April in a no-confidence vote has repeatedly held long-march with one demand, earlier elections, but these calls have never been accepted by Sharif, who emphasized to hold elections on its due time in 2023.
Khan, the former cricket hero, also survived an assassination attempt this month, but received injuries in the leg. A gunman opened fire on his container truck during a march toward the capital city Islamabad, wounding him, killing a rallygoer and wounding 13 others. Khan, who started his protest march from the eastern city of Lahore on Oct. 28, wants Sharif to immediately resign.
Anyways, there is a list of senior army generals as candidates for the key post owned by General Bajwa for the past six years. It has also ended days of speculation about a deadlock between Sharif’s coalition government and the military over the replacement of General Bajwa. Six generals were poised to replace General Bajwa, and the defense ministry sent these names to the government.
Who are General Bajwa’s possible successors?
According to sources, Pakistan defense ministry received names of six senior-most generals of Pakistan Army, in which Sharif apart from picking the name of the next Army Chief, he also will pick the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. These names include Lt. Gen. Asim Munir, Lt. Gen. Sahir Shamshad Mirza, Lt. Gen. Azhar Abbas, Lt. Gen. Nauman Mehmood, Lt. Gen. Faiz Hamid and Lt. Gen. Mohammad Amir. So far, neither the military nor the government confirmed these names or disclosed the names of the generals who were on the panel.
Why army chief appointment is a matter of debate
The Pakistan defense minister has tried to suggest that the new chief army appointment should not be a topic of public debate as a legal process is underway for the next army that probably will take one or two days. Khawaja Asif said he has no idea whether the new army chief’s appointment will be done on a seniority basis or merit, but said names will be finalized by tomorrow (Thursday).
The coalition parties and federal ministers will be taken into confidence on the appointment but regardless of politics, decisions should be made in the national interest, according to Asif.
There are rumors that Gen Asim Munir, former spy chief head, will be the next army chief, but Asif stated the appointment of the new chief should not be a part of public debate.
This key appointment in the past has never attracted so much jockeying, lobbying and controversy, but this time is mainly because Khan blamed the military led by General Bajwa for his ouster. The powerful army under direct order of General Bajwa that has often led the country and has often decided who governs in, denied Khan’s allegations. General Bajwa became army chief in 2016 and it was Mr. Khan extended his service for another three years.
General Bajwa’s family members made millions during his tenure
General Bajwa’s family members and relatives became millionaires during his six-year tenure, making assets amounting to nearly $56 million.
An online investigative news portal FactFocus shared the alleged wealth statements of General Bajwa and his family from 2013 to 2021 on its page. General Bajwa’s immediate and extended family members started a new business, became owners of farmhouses in prominent cities of Pakistan and bought foreign properties, making millions of dollars, according to the report.
The report was supported by a lot of data that looks into the financial dealing of General Bajwa’s family including his wife Ayesha Amjad, his daughter-in-law Mahnoor Sabir and other close family members.
The Pakistani Finance Ministry reacted to the news and said it has taken “serious notice” of the leak, calling it a violation of the tax law and breach of official confidential data.
The ministry said that leaking the army chief’s income tax returns was “illegal”, and people behind the leak have been identified – one from Lahore and another from Rawalpindi. Based on the Pakistani law, no one is allowed to release the army chief or anyone else’s income tax returns without a court order.
General Bajwa in his last public address focused on national interest
In what is being seen as the last public address, General Bajwa said that the Pakistan army will never go against the interest of the country and called on the stakeholders to sit together to resolve differences for the betterment of the country.
While delivering his address as army chief at the Defense and Martyrs Day ceremony at the General Headquarters (GHQ), Rawalpindi, he said that in the last 70 years, the army was involved in the country’s political affairs in different stages during the span of time.
General Bajwa said that the army decided to stay out of political affairs last year, but said if a conspiracy is being hatched, thus the armed forces will not stay quiet.
General Bajwa explained that the army’s primary job is to protect the geographical borders of the country, but the military has always stepped up beyond its mandate to serve the public, and those who are trying to incite hatred of the army among the public will be unsuccessful in their objective.
Pakistan military has recently faced a barrage of criticism
The Pakistan military has recently faced a barrage of criticism for their role in changing the government whenever they want in one or other way. There is no Prime Minister in the history of Pakistan that has completed his/her term in office. Mr. Khan was the only Prime Minister with expectation to complete its term, but removed from office as what he alleged in foreign conspiracy supported by General Bajwa.
The important and likely the last message of General Bajwa from an official position to the government leadership, was to put aside political differences as Pakistan is facing a severe economic crisis, and the country needs healing and recovery. There is no way out from this quagmire and no political group can do anything alone. Political stability is imperative for improving the economy and stakeholders must learn from frequent and move forward and drag Pakistan out of this crisis.
