LAHORE: PTI Chairman Imran Khan has asked President Arif Alvi to order an inquiry against former Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa for his alleged violation of oath and Constitution of Pakistan.

“Some very disturbing information has now come into public domain whereby it is clear that Gen retd Bajwa as COAS violated his oath of office repeatedly,” PTI Chief stated in letter written to President, shared publicly on party’s official social media channels. Imran Khan mentioned that former Army Chief committed “Violations” and requested Arif Alvi “As supreme commander of armed forces to institute an immediate inquiry” against him.

He referred to column published in newspaper earlier this month in which startling revelations about Imran Khan’s government were made attributing General (retd) Bajwa.

“He has admitted to journalist that ‘we’ (and it would be critical to ascertain from him who was ‘we’ in reference to) considered Imran Khan dangerous to country if he continued to stay in power,” Khan said, adding question that arises is who gave him power to decide that an elected prime minister was supposedly danger to country. Imran noted that only people through elections can decide who they want to elect as Prime Minister.  “Taking such right on himself is in clear violation of his oath as given in Third Schedule Article 244 of Constitution,” he alleged.

While referring to Shaukat Tarin’s corruption case, about which Bajwa claimed that former Finance Minister approached then spymaster General (retd) Faiz Hamid to get this matter sorted out.

“Regardless of merits of his claims in this case, he has also admitted he managed to get NAB case against Shaukat Tarin dismissed revealing that NAB was under his control again clear violation of Constitutional oath because Army itself is department under Ministry of Defence and civilian official autonomous institutions do not come military control,” Khan wrote. Khan quoting another journalist said that Gen (retd) Bajwa had “Tapes of then PM Imran Khan’s conversations with him”. PTI Chief wrote that this is “Serious violation” again of former Army Chief’s oath and “Violation” of fundamental human rights.

“Question is why and under what authorisation was Gen Bajwa recording confidential conversations?”

Imran Khan alleged that Gen (retd) Bajwa violated his oath when he publicly went against then government’s policy of maintaining neutrality in Russia-Ukraine war.

“He did this at an international conference in Islamabad on April 2, 2022 Islamabad Security Conference. I would like to point out that government policy was arrived at after developing consensus of all stakeholders including MOFA and retired diplomats who had relevant experience and were area specialists,” he wrote.

“I would also point out that Chapter II of Constitution describes mandate of Armed Forces and specifically refers to Articles 243 and 244. Therefore it is your Constitutional duty as President and as Supreme Commander of Armed Forces to take immediate action and institute an inquiry so as to establish whether such grave violations of Constitution and oath of Office under Constitution have taken place.”

Published in The Daily National Courier, February, 17 2023

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