Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has alleged that former Chief of Army Staff General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa threatened to impose martial law in November 2022 to secure an extension of his term.
Asif made these remarks in response to Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Ahmed Khan’s recent denial that Bajwa ever sought such an extension. Khan, a close associate of Bajwa and a member of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), had stated that Bajwa denied any desire for an extension during a meeting at the US embassy, suggesting that Asif might have misunderstood or forgotten details.
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In a local television interview, Asif stood by his claim, asserting that Bajwa’s threat was a serious issue. “General Bajwa made it clear he would impose martial law if necessary,” Asif stated.
Asif speculated that the difference between his account and Khan’s might be due to differing contexts, noting that Bajwa had sought an extension of six months to a year to resolve a political deadlock, a point of contention.
During the same programme, Khan reiterated that Bajwa had explicitly stated he would not seek an extension during his US visit. Khan quoted Bajwa as saying, “I am an old soldier and an old soldier fades away,” and emphasized that Bajwa had consistently denied pursuing an extension. He also mentioned Bajwa’s support for the appointments of General Sahir Shamshad Mirza and General Asim Munir to key military positions.
In a separate interview, Asif reiterated his claim that Bajwa played a significant role in bringing Imran Khan, founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, to power and had substantial influence over him. Asif further alleged that Bajwa had close ties with General (retd) Faiz Hameed, who was rumored to be a favored successor.
