Banerji, who is also a former special secretary R&AW, says General Munir will abide by the stand taken by General Bajwa and repeated by the latter on Wednesday, November 23, that “the Army (has) decided not to interfere in any political matter … I assure you we are adamant on this and will remain so.”

Banerji, the author of The Pakistan Army: Composition, Character and Compulsions, also discusses the two controversies surrounding General Munir’s appointment. First, the fact he retires on November 27 and General Bajwa, the present chief, only retires on November 29. Second, the role General Munir played during his brief stint as DG ISI, exposing allegations of corruption surrounding Imran Khan’s wife Bushra Sheikh.

In part two of the interview, Banerji speaks about recent revelations on Ahmad Noorani’s website, Fact Focus, alleging that in the last six years (when General Bajwa was Army chief), the Bajwa family has accumulated assets “more than Rs. 12.7 billion”. Ahmad Noorani has published multiple tax returns filed by General Bajwa, his wife and his daughter-in-law. Shortly after these revelations were made public, Noorani’s website was blocked and the finance minister ordered an immediate inquiry into the leak of the Bajwa family tax returns.