Army still confident Bajwa would be granted extension

General Qamar Javed Bajwa was handed a rare three-year extension on Aug. 19, with the office of Prime Minister Imran Khan citing tension with neighbouring India over the disputed territory of Kashmir.

Khan's government has enjoyed good relations with the military, in contrast to the tensions between the civilian government and army under the party of his predecessor and rival Nawaz Sharif.

In a hearing to validate Bajwa's extension on Tuesday, Chief Justice Asif Saeed Khosa said the court was suspending the decision until the army produced detailed arguments on the reasoning behind the move.

If the extension is blocked by the court, Bajwa's term will end on Friday.

The court's action surprised analysts tracking Pakistan's military.

It comes a day after several high-ranking generals were transferred to new roles.

"The unhappiness in the various institutions at the informal power that the army chief has acquired... may have brought different institutional forces together to challenge the extension," said Ayesha Siddiqua, an analyst.

An army spokesman declined to comment, but a military source said the army was still confident Bajwa would be granted an extension.

"The extension has been delayed only on a technicality and will be sorted out tomorrow," he said, declining to be named as he was not authorised to publicly discuss the issue.

Under Pakistan's constitution, the army chief of staff usually serves a three-year term. Since the role was established in 1972, only one general has had his term extended by a civilian government.