SC verdict on COAS’ extension: Great dismay for enemies, mafias, plunderers, says PM Imran Khan

By News Desk

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan Thursday called the Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Asif Saeed Khosa as one of the greatest jurists, produced by Pakistan, and said today must be a great disappointment to those, who expected the country to be destabilised by a clash of institutions.

Without directly referring to the Supreme Court judgment with regards to the question of extension to the Chief of Army Staff, in a series of tweets, the prime minister said he had the greatest respect for CJ Khosa, whom be described as one of the greatest jurists produced by Pakistan.

“For the record, 23 yrs ago we were the first Party to advocate an independent Judiciary and Rule of Law. In 2007, PTI was in the forefront of the Movement for Independence of the Judiciary & I was jailed for it,” he recalled. The prime minister also wrote, “Also, for the record, I have the greatest respect for CJ Khosa, one of the greatest Jurists produced by Pakistan”.

The prime minister tweeted, “today must be a great disappointment to those who expected the country to be destabilised by a clash of institutions. That this did not happen must be of special disappointment to our external enemies & mafias within”. “Mafias who have stashed their loot abroad and seek to protect this loot by destabilising the country,” he maintained in another tweet.

PM further stated that 23 years ago PTI was the first Party to advocate an independent Judiciary and Rule of Law. “In 2007, PTI was in the forefront of the Movement for Independence of the Judiciary and I was jailed for it,” he added. He said, “I have the greatest respect for CJP Asif Saeed Khosa as one of the greatest Jurists produced by Pakistan.”

Earlier, Supreme Court granted a six-month conditional extension to incumbent General Qamar Javed Bajwa in his service as the chief of army staff (COAS), and ordered the government to complete the required legislation within six months for extension/appointment of an army chief, reported a private news channel on Thursday.

Prior to announcement of the verdict, the top court ordered the government to submit, firstly, an undertaking that the Parliament will pass legislation within six months, and secondly, an amended notification of the third summary passed by the federal cabinet for granting an extension to General Bajwa. The amendments in the summary included removing, the mention of the Supreme Court, the duration of the army chief’s tenure and the description of army chief’s salary and incentives.