LAHORE: Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Ahmed Khan addressed media in Lahore on Wednesday, affirming his continued personal friendship with former Army Chief Gen (Retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa. This statement comes in response to recent comments by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, who alleged that Bajwa had denied seeking an extension of his tenure.
Khan refuted Asif’s claims, stating, “General Bajwa was explicit about not seeking an extension, asserting that he had already received one and it would be inappropriate to seek another.” He noted that his discussions with Bajwa rarely touched on political issues, including a notable meeting at the US embassy where Bajwa dismissed rumors of an extension. The Speaker emphasized that his remarks aimed to clarify the situation and correct any misunderstandings. “I seldom comment on such matters, but I must set the record straight. My friendship with Gen Bajwa is steadfast, and his own comments indicated that there are other deserving officers for advancement,” Khan said.
He also pointed out that decisions on extending an army chief’s tenure are governmental, and highlighted that the extension of Gen Bajwa’s term was supported by votes from various political parties, including the PPP and PML-N. Regarding Asif’s remarks, Khan asserted that they referred to conversations for which he had no evidence and reiterated Bajwa’s commitment to following seniority for future appointments.
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