While putting all the extension speculations to rest, Pakistani Chief of Army Staff, General Qamar Javed Bajwa has himself cleared the air on his retirement. The General said that he would leave the office after his term ended. While speaking at an event at the Pakistan Embassy in Washington on Tuesday, Bajwa said he would leave office after his term ended, adding that the military has distanced itself from politics, and would keep itself away from politics. Bajwa, who got an extension for a second term of three years in 2019, made the commitment while speaking at Pakistan’s embassy in Washington.

 

 

 

Pertinent to mention here that Bajwa’s tenure is ending in November and as he himself has clarified the extension issue, now the ball is in the incumbent Shehbaz Sharif Government’s court to find Bajwa’s successor. Unlike other nations, COAS in Pakistan holds the leverage to manipulate highest democratic chair of the country. Post of army chief in Pakistan continues to be the most powerful office, so powerful that it can even overthrow the elected Prime Minister.

 

 

 

Now, with Bajwa’s retirement, one thing gets certain that the incumbent government would appoint new COAS of their choice, someone who can help them in retaining the PM’s office in the next years general elections, since in Pakistan, its the army that have always dominated politics in the country sometimes by ruling directly or sometimes from behind the curtains.

 

 

 

Meanwhile, Former Pakistani PM and PTI leader Imran Khan has directed his party workers for the 'Haqeeqi Azadi March' in Islamabad against the ruling of incumbent Pakistani Government. This time freedom march will be carried out with full preparation, Khan said.

 

 

 

Khan has reiterated that only early election can end economic, political crisis in Pakistan, adding that timely elections would have saved the country from the economic crisis that it is facing today. Pertinently, since Khan was ousted from the throne in April , he has repeatedly claimed that the no trust motion against him was the result of a 'foreign conspiracy'. However, the PM has assured to hold the next general elections at the stipulated time.