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ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court has reserved the verdict in the case related to the extension in service of Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa until 1 pm today.
Earlier today, a three-member bench comprising Chief Justice of Pakistan Asif Saeed Khosa, Justice Mian Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel and Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah resumed hearing the case.
Read more: SC to resume hearing of COAS’s extension case today
During the hearing, the chief justice questioned today, “Under what provision was General [retired] Kayani granted an extension?”, adding that the court wanted to see what pension and perks the retired general had gotten after retirement.
Referring to the retirement of army generals, the Chief Justice of Pakisatn remarked, “If an army general never retires, then under what rule did Raheel Sharif retire?”
The CJP observed.”You said that generals never retire; if they don’t retire, then they wouldn’t be entitled to pension either.”
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Bar Association restored the license of Farogh Naseem, who earlier stepped down as law minister in order to represent General Bajwa in the court.
The court adjourned the hearing without passing a verdict on Wednesday.
Prime Minister earlier on 19th August appointed General Qamar Javed Bajwa as Chief of Army Staff for another term of three years from the date of completion of current tenure.
Also read: Law Minister Farogh Naseem resigns
According to the prime minister, the decision was taken in view of the regional security environment.
The COAS was scheduled to retire on 29th November 2019 but the premier extended his services for another three years which today has been turned down by the supreme court.
General Bajwa took command of the Pakistan Army on 29th November 2016 as the 16th Chief of Army Staff when the country had been fighting a fierce war against terror, and faced internal and external challenges.
Also read: Cabinet approves new summary for extension in army chief’s tenure