PM Imran Khan instructs Parvez Khattak to contact opposition leaders

Prime Minister Imran Khan once again instructed Defence Minister Parvez Khattak to rope in the opposition and the allied parties over issues related to the extension of Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa’s office term and appointment of the chief election commissioner (CEC).

PM Imran Khan chaired the meeting which was called to discuss extension to Army Chief’s tenure and the CEC’s appointment.

The premier issued directives to contact the opposition parties concerning the two matters.

According to sources, PM Khan told the government officials to quickly start the legislation process for extension to the army chief’s office term and complete it within the timeframe specified by the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

Tasking Khattak to meet leaders of the opposition parties, the premier directed him to pave the way for the legislation in consultation with them.

As regards the CEC’s appointment, PM Khan also issued directives for taking up quick decision and said no stone will be left unturned to make the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) an independent and autonomous body.

Earlier in November, The government had sent a new summary to cabinet members for the tenure extension of Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa.

Prime Minister Imran Khan chaired an important meeting in Prime Minister House owing to the Supreme Court of Pakistan’s decision regarding the extension in service of Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa.

During the meeting consultations were held over the amendments made in the rules of the Army Act.

The government’s legal team briefed the Prime Minister and the cabinet about the objections raised by the apex court in the case during Wednesday’s hearing.

The premier had directed Faroogh Naseem to appear before the Supreme Court with full preparations.

Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa, former law minister Farogh Naseem, Attorney General, the government’s legal team, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Education Minister Shafqat Mehmood, Defence Minister Pervez Khattak, Planning and Development Minister Asad Umar and Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari were present during the meeting.

Earlier on 26 November, Supreme Court of Pakistan had suspended the notification extending Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa’s tenure for another three years.