LAHORE: Federal Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid claims the six-month time-frame given by the Supreme Court for the legislation / amendment to the Constitution and the relevant laws means a three-year extension for Chief of Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa.

“You consider six months a three-year extension for the COAS. There is an opinion that it will be done with a simple majority. However, the amendment, if required, will be passed with a majority because no political party is against extension of the COAS,” he told journalists at the PR Headquarters on Saturday.

Speaking about alleged ineptness the government has shown in dealing with the COAS extension case in the apex court, he said there was no problem on part of Farogh Naseem.

Rashid expressed displeasure over the performance of the Punjab government saying he hoped governance would improve as CM Usman Buzdar had learnt quite a lot.

Predicting voices of anguish in Sindh, Mr Rashid said Prime Minister Imran Khan would never give NRO to anyone. “There is a mafia that wants to destablise the PTI government in the form of Maulana, price hike, hoarders, law and order etc. But the government would surely foil all such bids. Those who wanted to create chaos have failed to do so and the COAS stands shoulder to shoulder with Imran Khan and for democracy.

“Our COAS has also given a deep wound to India by opening the Kartarpur corridor,” he said.

He said since Nawaz Sharif was now abroad for his medical treatment and Shahbaz too seemed focused on his brother’s health, the situation was calm. “Many a time I asked Imran to let these people go. And soon Asif Ali Zardari too would be out as a result of pleas bargain,” he added.

He made a cutting remark that Maulana Fazlur Rehman didn’t return empty-handed but he (Maulana) would start saying that he returned “very empty-handed”.

“The government has now given a free hand to Maulana to hold rallies anywhere. And he is doing so,” he said.

Published in Dawn, December 1st, 2019