General Qamar Javed Bajwa

Did not denotify Gen Bajwa during his role as Army chief, says Imran Khan

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder Imran Khan on Saturday said that he did not de-notify former Army chief Gen (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa despite his actions during the removal of PTI government in 2022 felt like a betrayal', according to a media report. Khan, 71, who was ousted from power in April 2022 via the opposition's no-confidence motion, had blamed Gen Bajwa for playing a vital role against his government. Speaking to journalists in an informal conversation during the hearing of the Toshakhana reference in Adiala Jail, Khan said: "Although General Bajwa's actions felt like a betrayal, we [the then PTI government] refrained from convening a committee to confront him. During the conversation, Khan once again called for negotiations for the betterment of the country. It's for the betterment of Pakistan, so convince me for negotiations. If I could meet Gen Qamar Bajwa twice following the removal of our government, then I could meet anyone. Right now, it is not about me, but is abou

Ex-Pakistan Army chief General Bajwa heckled by Afghan man in France

The Pashto-speaking man accused Bajwa human rights violations in Afghanistan and accused him of helping the Taliban loot Afghanistan

General Bajwa put pressure on me to restore ties with India: Imran Khan

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan has said former army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa had pressurised him to restore friendship with India, the media reported

General Bajwa asked me to condemn Russian invasion of Ukraine: Imran Khan

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan has said General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa had asked him to condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine soon after his return from Moscow, Geo News reported

General Bajwa called me playboy during our last meeting: Imran Khan

Pakistan's former prime minister Imran Khan has said that retired Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa called him a playboy during their last meeting before his ouster from the Constitutional position last year through a no-confidence motion. In his interaction with media persons on Monday at his Lahore's residence, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chairman talked about dirty audios' purportedly connected with him. What message we are giving to our youth through dirty audios and videos, he said and indirectly blamed the powerful establishment for recording such audios. Recently three purported audio clips believed to be of Khan got leaked. Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah claimed that these audio clips are genuine and similarly video clips of Khan might be out in coming days. In a meeting with Gen Bajwa in August 2022, he told me that he had audios and videos of my party men. He also reminded me that I was a playboy'. I told himyes, I was (a playboy) in the past and I never claimed th

Pakistan: Imran claims General Bajwa 'made a deal' with Asif Ali Zardari

He claimed that former chief of army staff (COAS) General Bajwa probably believed that PTI's popularity would witness a decline, however, "that did not happen"

Ex-Pak PM Imran asked Gen Bajwa to get oppn politicians arrested: Report

Bajwa is now the focused target of Khan who not only sees the former COAS as the sole reason for all his failures but also alleges that the general had removed his govt as part of a US conspiracy

General Asim Munir takes charge as Pakistan's new Army chief

General Asim Munir, Pakistan's former spymaster, on Tuesday assumed charge as the country's new Army chief, replacing Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa who retired after two consecutive three-year terms. Munir assumed charge during an impressive ceremony at the General Headquarters (GHQ), becoming the 17th Chief of the Army Staff. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on November 24 nominated Munir to the most powerful position in the coup-prone country, where the military wields considerable power in matters of security and foreign policy. He is the first Army chief who has headed both powerful intelligence agencies - the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and the Military Intelligence (MI). His stint as the spy chief at the ISI was the shortest ever as he was replaced by Lt Gen Faiz Hamid within eight months on the insistence of then-Prime Minister Imran Khan in 2019. The powerful Army, which has ruled Pakistan for more than half of its 75-plus years of existence, has hitherto wielded considerable po

Pakistan halts overseas payments for online gaming and other apps

Army rejects claims about Gen Bajwa, family's assets; PTI Senator arrested for tweets against military officials

Pakistan govt receives names of senior generals for next Army chief

The clouds of uncertainty around the appointment of Pakistan's new army chief began to clear on Wednesday after the government announced on Wednesday that it has received the names of six senior generals for the post to succeed incumbent General Qamar Javed Bajwa. Gen Bajwa, 61, is scheduled to retire on November 29 after a three-year extension. He has ruled out seeking another extension. The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) issued a brief statement on Twitter that it received the summary from the Ministry of Defence for the appointment of the new Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and the Chairman Joint Chief of Staff Committee (CJCSC). The prime minister will take a decision on the appointments as per the laid down procedure, according to the statement. The Army also confirmed that it had sent the names of six top lieutenant generals for the appointments. Although it did not mention the names, but it is believed that the six men include Lt Gen Asim Munir (currently Quarter Master General),

Pak govt seek constitutional amendment to empower PM to retain army chief

The planned amendment of the Pakistan Army Act (PAA) 1952 would empower the prime minister to retain an incumbent Army chief with a simple notification rather than through a complex process

Pak Army chief Gen Bajwa calls for regional peace, resolving issues

Pakistan Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Saturday emphasised the need for regional peace and developing a mechanism for resolving all bilateral issues peacefully among countries as he warned that the price of status quo will be devastating for all of us. What could possibly be his last address at the prestigious Pakistan Military Academy in Kakul as he is set to retire by the end of November, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) said that the "world has changed, so should we as the price of status quo will be devastating for all of us. Without naming any country, the 61-year-old Pakistan Army chief stressed the need for regional peace and developing a mechanism for resolving all bilateral issues peacefully. We must give peace a chance by developing a mechanism to resolve all our bilateral issues peacefully. Moreover, as opposed to fighting each other, we should collectively fight hunger, poverty, illiteracy, population explosion, climate change and disease, he said. The world has

Armed forces to stay out of politics, says Pakistan Army Gen Bajwa

Pakistan Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa has assured the nation that the armed forces have distanced themselves from politics and wanted to continue to do so, according to a media report on Wednesday. Gen Bajwa, who is in the US, also reiterated his promise to leave office after completing his second three-year term in November, adding that he would fulfill the pledge he made earlier, the Dawn newspaper reported. Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Bajwa, 61, would retire on November 29. Bajwa had been given an extension for a second term of three years in 2019. His remarks came at a lunch hosted at the Pakistan Embassy in Washington. According to those who attended the event, Bajwa said that the armed forces have distanced themselves from politics and wanted to continue to do so, the newspaper reported. These remarks came in the wake of former premier Imran Khan making anti-military statements. Bajwa has held the top post of the Pakistan Army for six years. He was initia

US Defence Secretary to host Pakistan Army chief for talks at Pentagon

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Tuesday will host Pakistan Army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa at the Pentagon for talks amidst signs of enhanced military engagement between the two countries. Last week, Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was in the town meeting top officials of the Biden Administration, including Secretary of State Tony Blinken. Bajwa will be accorded an "enhanced honour cordon" at the riverside entrance of the Pentagon by Austin following which the two will be holding a meeting on bilateral and regional issues. America's engagement with Pakistan, in particular with its military, has increased in recent months. Last month, the US announced a USD450 million F-16 fighter jet sustenance package for Pakistan.

Imran Khan denies talking about granting extension to Army chief Gen Bajwa

Pakistan's former prime minister Imran Khan on Tuesday denied talking about granting an extension to Army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, saying he had just proposed to defer the appointment of the new army chief till elections. On Monday, Khan had told a TV channel in an interview that the tenure of the army chief should be extended until his successor is appointed by the new government after elections. "I never talked about the extension of the army chief's tenure. I just proposed to defer the appointment of the army chief till elections," Khan told reporters at his Banigala residence in the suburbs of capital Islamabad. He said that a new government should decide on the new army chief. In his meeting with reporters, the former premier said that the newly-elected government should decide the army chief's selection on merit, adding that he never said who should be the military's head. "I never said who should be the army chief. I always stressed for an army chief's appointment to be

Pak Army chief likely to visit US to request for early IMF funding: Report

Days after Pakistan's Army Chief General Qamar Bajwa requested Washington for help in securing an early disbursement of funds from the IMF, he is likely to visit US

Not Pak Army chief's job to reach out to US over IMF loan: Ex-PM Imran Khan

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday criticised Army chief General Qamar Bajwa for seeking help from the US over a much-needed IMF bailout for the country

Kartarpur corridor represents Pak's commitment to religious freedom: Bajwa

Pakistan Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa said that the Kartarpur corridor was the practical manifestation of Pakistan's unwavering commitment to religious freedom and harmony

Pakistan Army chief Bajwa meets ailing Pervez Musharraf in Dubai: Reports

Gen Bajwa, accompanied by top physicians of the Pakistan Army, spent some time with Gen Musharraf and his family at their apartment in Dubai while the army doctors examined the former military ruler

Stop attacks on Chinese nationals in Pakistan, Beijing tells Gen Bajwa

Highlighting the attacks on Chinese nationals in Pakistan, Beijing on Sunday asked Pakistan's Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa to stop attacks on its nationals