Imran Khan asks President to order inquiry against Bajwa

LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan has asked President Dr Arif Alvi to initiate an inquiry against former chief of army staff General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa for “grave violations of the Constitution and oath of office”.

In a letter addressed to Dr Arif Alvi, the former prime minister reminded him of his constitutional duty as president and as supreme commander of the armed forces.

Imran Khan’s letter to President Dr Arif Alvi says:

“Some very disturbing information has now come into the public domain whereby it is clear that Gen retd Bajwa as COAS violated his oath of office repeatedly. In view of these violations identified below. l would request you as Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces to institute an immediate inquiry against him.

1. He has admitted 10 journalist Javed Ch that “we” (and it would be critical to ascertain from him who was the “we” in reference to) considered lmran Khan dangerous to the country if he continued to stay in power. The question that arises is who gave him the power to decide that an elected PM was supposedly a “danger to the country if he continued to stay in power”. Only the people through elections can decide who they want to elect as PM. Taking such a right on himself is in clear violation of his oath as given in Third Schedule Article 244 of the Constitution.
2. Regardless of the 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 a clear violation of the Constitutional oath because the army itself is a department under the Ministry of Defence and civilian official autonomous institutions do not come military control.
3. According to a Vlog of a Pakistani journalist Aftab Iqbal Gen Bajwa told him in conversation that he had tapes of then PM lmran Khan’s conversations with him. This is a serious violation again of his oath and violation of fundamental human rights. The question is why and under what authorisation was Gen Bajwa recording confidential conversations?
4. Another serious violation of his oath was committed when General Bajwa publicly went against the then govt’s policy of maintaining neutrality in the Russia-Ukraine war. He did this at an international conference in Islamabad on 2 April 2022 – the Islamabad Security Conference. 1 would like to point out that the govt policy was arrived at after developing a consensus of all stakeholders including mofa and retired diplomats who had the relevant experience and were area specialists.

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