Govt to announce Pakistan’s new army chief’s name by Wednesday

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has completed consultations with leaders of allied parties regarding the next army chief of the country and will make a decision in the next two or three days.

The incumbent army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa is retiring on November 29 and the government is to make an appointment before that date.

The Ministry of Defence will formally initiate the process on Monday and a final decision will be made by Tuesday or Wednesday.

Minister for Defence Khawaja Muhammad Asif while participating in a TV show, said the appointment of the army chief was a legal obligation. The final decision rests with the Prime Minister who will make it in accordance with law, constitution and set procedure.

Earlier, Prime Minister Sharif held telephonic conversation with his chief ally, leader of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) Maulana Fazlur Rehman and conveyed to him his government’s stance on the appointment of the new army chief.

Pakistan People’s Party leader, former President Asif Ali Zardari, also supported the government’s move and in a statement said that his party believed in the promotion system for the army and that the top army boss’s appointment would be made by the Prime Minister as per the Constitution.

President Dr Arif Alvi, meanwhile, conveyed that he would not block or hinder the appointment process of the new army chief as he had no legal authority to do so.

Crucial appointment

During a meeting with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senator Ishaq Dar, the president conveyed to him that he would follow Sharif’s advice on the next army chief’s appointment.

The meeting was held to discuss the ways and means to end the deadlock between the government and Imran Khan’s party the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) over the appointment of army chief and holding of general elections in the country.

Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah has termed too much speculation on the crucial appointment of the new army chief quite unnecessary and uncalled for.

Replying to a journalist’s question, the minister said the prime minister was the competent authority to appoint the commander-in-chief of the country and there should be no confusion about it.

The appointment would be made before the deadline i.e. November 29 and the initial process of consultation with the allies has been completed.

He dismissed the accusations by the Chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) that former Prime Minister and elder brother of PM Shehbaz, Nawaz Sharif would seek some sureties from the next army chief before his appointment such as getting him (Imran) declared from the courts. “I am not sure whether the new army chief would accept those demands or not but I know this will be the sole criteria for the next army chief,” said Imran Khan.

Responding to Imran Khan’s allegations, Rana Sanaullah said it was childish to expect such ‘bargain’ between the former prime minister and the new army chief. Imran Khan must understand that Nawaz Sharif has never compromised on principles. He has not done this in the past and will not do in future, he said.