PTI made mistake granting Bajwa extension: Qaiser

Former NA speaker alleges country currently under 'de facto martial law'

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Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser has admitted the party made a mistake by granting an extension to former army chief Gen (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa, saying he “apologises” for the decision, Express News reported.

Speaking at a press conference alongside leaders of Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Ain Pakistan on Sunday, Qaiser alleged that the country is currently under “de facto martial law” and that the existing system is “neither constitutional nor legal.”

He claimed a “whisper campaign” was under way about a possible 27th constitutional amendment, adding that the lawyers’ movement would begin opposing it. “We have decided to use every forum, both inside and outside Parliament,” he said.

Addressing speculation that he could become opposition leader, he dismissed the reports, saying he expected PTI’s Omar Ayub to return soon and assume the role.

Qaiser urged that the cases against PTI founder Imran Khan be heard on merit. He criticised the disqualification of the opposition leaders in both houses of Parliament, calling it “a farce.” “Around the world, lawmakers enjoy privileges and can visit prisons. Is it not illegal to bar an assembly member from going to jail?” he asked.

The former speaker accused the administration of pressuring decision-makers, warning that Pakistan was heading towards “severe anarchy.” “If the cases are heard on merit, there is nothing in them,” he added.

Bajwa was appointed COAS by PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif in 2019 and extended by PTI chairman Imran Khan in 2019 - serving the nation as army chief for six years. Qaiser was speaker of the house during the tension, which ended up showing the door to the PTI’s government through vote of no-confidence.

Meanwhile, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar dismissed Qaiser’s press conference as “misleading and contrary to facts,” saying his statements on the country’s economy were not in the public interest.

Information Minister has described news conference of PTI's leader as misleading and contrary to facts@MoIB_Official @TararAttaullah #RadioPakistan #News https://t.co/RdynaQlUdA pic.twitter.com/tl8udz9dKG

— Radio Pakistan (@RadioPakistan) August 10, 2025

In a statement issued on Sunday, Tarar questioned whether the opposition could not accept that Pakistan’s remittances had reached a record USD 38 billion, the current account surplus had hit USD 2.1 billion, exports were rising, the stock market was booming, and the economy was developing.

“Global rating agencies have clearly improved Pakistan’s ranking in terms of the economy,” the minister said, adding that these indicators reflected the government’s progress.

He asserted that the opposition’s only real concern was that “the perpetrators of the May 9 conspiracy are being brought to justice.” Tarar said sentences in May 9-related cases had been issued “in accordance with the law after a transparent and fair trial.”