Pakistan Law Minister resigns

By Islamuddin Sajid

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AA) - Pakistan Law Minister Farogh Naseem resigned Tuesday shortly after an emergency Cabinet meeting, officials said.

Federal Minister for Railway Sheikh Rashid Ahmad and Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood confirmed Naseem’s resignation and said he voluntarily left the post.

"Law Minister tendered his resignation to Prime Minister Imran Khan and he will represent the government in the army chief case in the Supreme Court," Sheikh Rashid told reporters.

Rashid said Khan accepted Naseem's resignation.

Geo News reported that Khan expressed displeasure about Naseem’s negligence in the army chief extension procedure.

But Rashid rejected those reports and said Khan appreciated Naseem's service as Law Minister in the Cabinet meeting.

The federal minister said the emergency Cabinet meeting chaired by Khan approved a new summary to extend the tenure of Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa as army chief.

Earlier Tuesday, Pakistan's Supreme Court suspended a three-year extension for Bajwa.

A three-member panel of the apex court led by Chief Justice Asif Saeed Khosa suspended a notification issued Aug. 19 by Khan to extend Bajwa’s term for three years in August.

The court issued notices to the government, the army chief and others for Wednesday.

Bajwa is set to retire Nov. 28.