Pakistan Army Chief Bajwa to retire after 5 weeks, not to seek extension

Rawalpindi: Pakistan Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Friday said that he will not take an extension and retire after five weeks, reports Pakistan’s Geo News.

The COAS, according to the sources, said that the army will not play any role in politics.

Notably, Bajwa is set to retire on 29 November this year and all eyes are focused on the appointment of the new army chief.

Earlier, Bajwa assured the nation that the armed forces have distanced themselves from politics and want to stay away from it in the future as well. He was given a three-year extension on November 29, 2019.

While addressing the gathering during the lunch at Pakistani Embassy in Washington, Bajwa said that he will leave after the completion of his second three-year term in two months, Dawn reported.

There was speculation that he may get a second extension after a reported meeting between Bajwa and PMLN supremo Nawaz Sharif in London.

Post the Bajwa-Sharif meeting, the current discussion on possible successors to Bajwa in November could take a new turn. The possible successors are - Corps Commander Rawalpindi Lt Gen Sahir Shamshad Mirza, Lt Gen Azhar Abbas, Lt Gen Nauman Mahmood Raja, and Lt Gen Faiz Hameed.

It must be noted that the three officers who are likely to remain in the queue would be Corps Commander Gujranwala Muhammad Amir and Corps Commander Multan Lt Gen Chiragh Haider and ISI DG Lt Gen Nadeem Ahmed Anjum Sheikh.

Moreover, the recent promotion of 12 major generals has set the stage for a major reshuffle in Pakistan’s top military brass.

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