ISPR DG Babar Iftikhar has rejected as “baseless” the speculations about another extension in the term for Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa.

Addressing a news conference in Islamabad on Wednesday, the ISPR chief said it’s not appropriate to talk about the COAS term now. Gen Bajwa is expected to serve in the position until November 29, 2022.

Maj-Gen Babar Iftikhar also said some elements from within the country and outside had launched a smear campaign against state institutions and persons, but the armed forces were well-informed about their activities.

On 29 November 2016, Prime Minister of that time Mian Nawaz Sharif appointed General Bajwa - the fourth by seniority, as the Chief of Army Staff, superseding two generals who were senior to him.

Prime Minister Imran Khan extended his tenure for another three years on August 19, 2019. But Supreme Court of Pakistan suspended the extension on 26 November 2019.

Later, the Supreme Court allowed the 6-month extension of him in short order and directed the parliament to legislate on the extension and reappointment of an army chief.

On January 8, 2020, the Senate passed the Pakistan Army (Amendment) Bill 2020, allowing for Gen Bajwa's tenure extension up to three years till 29 November 2022.