Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has claimed that former Chief of Army Staff General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa threatened to impose martial law in Pakistan while seeking an extension in his term in November 2022. Asif made this assertion during a televised appearance, countering recent statements by Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Ahmed Khan, who denied that Bajwa had sought an extension.
Khawaja Asif insisted that Bajwa did indeed express a desire for a temporary extension of six months to one year to resolve political deadlock, warning of martial law if his demands were not met. Asif reiterated that Bajwa was instrumental in bringing Imran Khan and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to power, and that Bajwa and General (R) Faiz Hamid had a close relationship, with Bajwa wanting Faiz to succeed him.
In contrast, Malik Ahmed Khan, a PML-N leader and a close friend of Bajwa, recounted a different version of events. He stated that during a meeting at the US Embassy, Bajwa firmly denied seeking an extension, expressing his desire to fade away quietly like an old soldier. Khan emphasized that Bajwa supported the appointments of General Sahir Shamshad Mirza and General Asim Munir to senior military positions, further suggesting that Bajwa had no interest in extending his tenure.
The conflicting narratives from Asif and Khan have sparked renewed debate over the role of military leadership in Pakistan’s political landscape, especially concerning the appointment of top military officials and the implications of martial law threats.
