Law minister quits govt to appear in extension case as counsel for government: Fresh summary approved by Cabinet

The federal cabinet on Tuesday approved a fresh summary for extension in the tenure of Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa after the Supreme Court observed certain anomalies in the earlier notification. Federal Law Minister Farogh Naseem resigned during the cabinet meeting to defend the government's stance before the court.

This was stated by Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid, Minister for Federal Education and Professional Training Shafqat Mahmood and Special Assistant to PM on Accountability Shahzad Akbar at a joint press conference after the cabinet meeting.

They further said that Naseem tendered his resignation during the cabinet meeting. Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said that Prime Minister Imran Khan has accepted Naseem's resignation.

On General Bajwa's extension issue, Rashid said extension in service of Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa is the need of the hour.

"Let me tell you that Farogh Naseem has resigned voluntarily," said Akbar. "He will present himself before the court tomorrow (Wednesday) with the attorney general and represent the government's stance on General Bajwa's extension," he added. Akbar further said that Naseem resigned as he could not argue the case being a federal law minister.

Rashid rejected reports that any member of the federal cabinet criticized Naseem in the meeting. "The cabinet appreciated Naseem's hard work and capabilities," he added.

Akbar said that Naseem could once again take up the portfolio of federal Law Ministry once the case ends.

"It is PM's discretion to make decisions about circumstances and individuals," said Shafqat Mahmood. He said that a lot of issues came under discussion during the cabinet meeting including the observations of the apex court regarding General Bajwa's extension.

He said that Article 243 of the Constitution gives the Prime Minister the right to make decisions like extending the tenure of the army chief. "Before making this decision, it was kept in mind that the region is witnessing extraordinary circumstances," he said. "The notification was issued with the Prime Minister's signature on August 19," he added.

Mahmood said that the then army chief General Ashfaq Pervez Kiyani was also given an extension by using Army Regulation 255. He said the federal cabinet and its allied parties have expressed complete support for extension in the tenure of the Army Chief.

He said the apex court observed during a hearing on Tuesday that the word 'extension' was not included in the Army Regulation 255. He said the cabinet has amended the Army Regulation 255.

The federal minister said that the Prime Minister had taken the decision owing to General Bajwa's achievements in securing peace through Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad.

Mahmood said the situation in Indian-occupied Kashmir and on the Line of Control (LoC) is 'extraordinary'. "It was the first time that India attacked Pakistan in February last after the 1971 war," he added.