Govt hiding behind army, Gen. Bajwa for its failures: Ahsan Iqbal

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader and former interior minister Ahsan Iqbal said on Saturday that the government was hiding behind the armed forces and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa over its failures.

The PML-N leader said that the way the government had handled the army chief's extension, it had made Pakistan a laughing stock in the world.

"Don't hide behind the armed forces and the army chief for your failures," he said. "The armed forces and the army chief are institutions of the country. They do not belong to the PTI," he said.

Iqbal accused the government of trying to instigate the opposition so that no legislation over the army chief's extension is done.

Supreme Court allows fed. govt to extend army chief's tenure

 The Supreme Court on Thursday allowed the federal government to grant a six-month extension to COAS General Qamar Javed Bajwa.

In its short order the apex court directed the government to bring necessary legislation within six months' time.

The order, read out by Chief Justice Asif Saeed Khosa, ordered the parliament to introduce legislation for appointment of army chief under Article 243.

READ MORE: SC directs govt to bring necessary legislation

The order stated regarding the Article 243: "Article 243 of the Constitution clearly mandates that the Federal Government shall have control and command of the Armed Forces and the supreme command of the Armed Forces shall vest in the President."

The CJP remarked that the court is observing judicial restraint and leaving the matter to the parliament.