It was on September 19, 2016 that Business Recorder made a claim that Lt-Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa is emerging as the strongest candidate to replace Army Chief Gen Raheel Sharif. Headlined, "Next Army Chief: Lieutenant-General Qamar Bajwa strongest candidate?" and penned by Business Recorder staff reporters Ali Hussain and Nuzhat Nazar, the forecast was based on background discussions with former military generals, defence analysts and political circles.