So, the curtain has finally come down on the extended Bajwa term – 2016-2022.
His last speech was a sort of an unflinching memoir that covered the highs and lows, the mistakes and lessons learned and the firsthand account of overseeing the world’s sixth largest military.
He expressed the need for the nation to shed intolerance and adopt a “true democratic culture”, and that“…in February last year the army, after great deliberation, decided that it would never interfere in any political matter.”
Treading into political territory, he said many sectors used inappropriate and undignified language while making the army the target of severe criticism -- a “false narrative was created”, from which “an escape is now being attempted”.
“To criticise the army is the right of [political] parties and the people, but the language used [should be careful],” he said.
One is not sure if it is a moment to protest or party? Though one is sure that it will make his successor nervous. Based on the history of civil-military relations, these claims are tall and promises hard to keep.
One memory sticks to mind from COAS’s initial days in office – the so-called Bajwa Doctrine. It was basically a template to bring peace and security to the country, where he avowed that the military as an institution “should recognise that for democracy to survive, all institutions must remain within their constitutional domains” in Pakistan.
His last speech was a sort of an unflinching memoir that covered the highs and lows, the mistakes and lessons learned and the firsthand account of overseeing the world’s sixth largest military.
The Bajwa doctrine was a thing of 2018. It was welcomed as the army’s pledge to stop tinkering with coups and democracy. It was viewed as an effort to absolve the army of past mistakes -- particularly because it was presented six months after Nawaz Sharif was disqualified from running the country in the Panama case, two months after a senior Pakistani army officer was seen distributing money to anti-government TLP protesters in Islamabad, and six months before Imran Khan and his PTI swept the July 2018 general elections in the country.
By the time his first term as the army chief expired in November 2019, Bajwa was not ready to go home. Then Prime Minister Imran Khan graciously extended his stay in office for another three years.
What followed after this service is no guess. The same page mantra lost power, differences surfaced on the US-Pak relations, DG ISI appointment, Usman Buzdar as Punjab’s chief minister… and Imran Khan was ousted from the PM office in April 2022.
Since then Khan has been blaming the army for his removal and has named prominent generals for attack on his life.
In this background, clearly, and as journalist AamirGhauri said on Wednesday in Naya Daur TV’s show, Khabar Say Aagay, that Bajwa’s speech was an acknowledgment of his mistakes.
It is unbecoming of the army chief to make this speech. Mosharraf Zaidi said, “It is possible that the army and the civil administration were on the collision path against Bajwa’s wishes. Still, it is not in interest of the country to be in such a situation.”
“The farewell speech should have been uncontroversial,” said Murtaza Solangi.
Qamar Javed Bajwa is about to leave with a legacy of disgrace, distrust and discord – and it should worry people on all sides of politics.