Pakistan’s Defence Minister, Khawaja Asif, has made serious claims about the events surrounding the 2022 appointment of the new Army Chief. Speaking on Geo News, he said that during the selection process, the then-Army Chief, General (R) Qamar Javed Bajwa, tried to influence the decision and even threatened to take control.
According to Khawaja Asif, his party had no personal link with General Asim Munir at the time, and the government was only trying to ensure a merit-based appointment. He stated that General (R) Bajwa resisted the government’s decision for “eight to nine days” and pressured them by demanding an extension. Asif claimed that Bajwa warned, “I will take over if I am not given an extension.”
The Defence Minister added that during this period, General (R) Bajwa switched between offering incentives and issuing threats. Asif said the retired general first attempted to make Lt. Gen. Faiz Hameed the new Army Chief, suggesting that Bajwa was pushing strongly for his preferred candidate.
These claims have surfaced at a time when former ISI Chief Lt. Gen. (R) Faiz Hameed has recently been sentenced by a military court. According to ISPR, he was tried on four charges: involvement in political activities, violating the Official Secrets Act, misuse of authority and government resources, and causing harm to citizens. The court awarded him 14 years of rigorous imprisonment after finding all charges proven.
Faiz Hameed’s lawyer, Mian Ali Ashfaq, told BBC that he has been instructed to file an appeal against the sentence. He added that a request will be submitted to the military court to obtain the decision’s copy and related documents. Under the law, an appeal must be filed within 40 days in the Court of Appeal.
Khawaja Asif’s statements are likely to intensify political debate in Pakistan, raising new questions about civil-military relations and the events leading up to General Asim Munir’s appointment.
Read More: Former Lt Gen Faiz Hameed Sentenced to 14 Years After 15-Month Court Martial
