Khawaja Asif Reveals General Bajwa’s Shifting Stance on Army Chief Appointment
Federal Minister for Defence Khawaja Asif has revealed intriguing details about the appointment process of the next army chief during an interview on Geo News’ program ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath’. He disclosed that former army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa initially wanted General Faiz Hameed to be considered for the position. However, just days before the official announcement, General Bajwa changed his mind and advised against selecting General Faiz for the top military role.
Khawaja Asif shared that General Bajwa had even proposed another candidate for the position after withdrawing his support for General Faiz. He explained that while he conveyed General Bajwa’s suggestions, the final decision was at the discretion of then-Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Malik Ahmad Khan, a close associate of Khawaja Asif, was reportedly a witness to these conversations.
During the interview, Khawaja Asif confirmed that General Bajwa had initially sought an extension for himself, later recommended General Faiz for the army chief post, and ultimately proposed alternatives to General Asim Munir, who eventually became the army chief. Asif remarked on the erratic nature of these high-level decisions, saying, “These big people are very shallow.”
The Defence Minister also addressed General Faiz Hameed’s activities post-retirement. He suggested that General Faiz might have been involved in the political events that unfolded after his retirement in November 2022, including the May 9 incidents. Khawaja Asif hinted that General Faiz might have played a role as a strategic adviser during these events, though he could not confirm this with certainty.
Asif further mentioned the close personal ties between General Faiz and General Bajwa, noting that their fathers-in-law were very close, which strengthened their bond. Despite this relationship, the events leading up to the army chief appointment and subsequent political developments have added layers of complexity to their narrative.
