General Bajwa offered life-long extension in service: ISI chief

RAWALPINDI, Oct 27 (NNI): Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Director General Lt-General Nadeem Anjum has revealed that Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa was offered ling-long extension in service in March this year but he declined it.
Addressing a joint press conference with Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lieutenant General Babar Iftikhar in Rawalpindi on Thursday, the ISI chief disclosed “I am eyewitness to the life-long offer as it was made in my presence but the army chief rejected it on the spot.”
The ISI chief made an unprecedented appearance during today’s press conference, it was the first time ever this has happened.
He said he knew that journalists were surprised to see him in their midst but remaining silent at a time when chaos and anarchy was feared in the country was not good.
In this regard, he said that, “I am aware that you are surprised by my presence,” adding that he had appeared for his institution and the officers who were sacrificing their lives.
“As chief of this agency, I cannot remain silent when they are targeted for no reason,” he added.
He said his policy was clear that he did not want any publicity. He expressed the resolve to continue to defend his institution and martyrs of the country’s armed forces.
He went on to say that in March 2022, Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa had been offered extension for an indefinite time period.
The ISI DG said it was unfortunate that the ‘martyrs’ of the armed forces were ridiculed. He said despite intense pressure, the ISI performed its constitutional duty.
Lt-General Nadeem Anjum regretted that a false propaganda had been unleashed against the defenders of the country with so much ease.
“The tendency to call Pakistan Army’s high command ‘Mir Jaafar’ and ‘Mir Sadiq’ should be discouraged,” he said, and questioned the PTI as to why it had given extension to the army chief, why it had offered unlimited extension to the army chief when it was in power in March. “They even now meeting the army chief at night behind the doors. Why they are seeking such meetings at night and hurling accusations in the day,” he questioned.
“Meeting [him] is your right but it cannot be possible that you meet at night and call [him] a traitor in the day,” asked the DG ISI.
The chief of the country’s premier intelligence agency further said that there was no threat to the life of late journalist Arshad Sharif in Pakistan. Taking the investigation into Arshad’s murder to its logical conclusion has become imperative otherwise the ‘damage’ would be huge, he added. He informed that he was in touch with his Kenyan counterpart.
The ISI Director General said that a cent percent transparent inquiry will be conducted into the Arshad Sharif’s murder and all the findings will be shared with the public through ISPR. NNI