-Hails exceptionally high standards of Army’s premier training institution
-Defence Minister rules out deadlock between govt, GHQ over appointment of new Army Chief
By Our Defence
Correspondent
RAWALPINDI: As part of his farewell visits, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa visited Pakistan Military Academy (PMA) Kakul and Baloch Regimental Centre Abbottabad on Tuesday.
According to a statement by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), upon his arrival at the PMA, Gen Qamar was received by Commander Rawalpindi Corps Lieutenant General Sahir Shamshad Mirza.
The Army Chief laid floral wreath at Martyrs’ Monument and offered fateha. Gen Bajwa also interacted with the cadets and officers of PMA. While addressing, the COAS appreciated exceptionally high standards of Pakistan Army’s premier training institution and its efforts towards grooming the future leaders.
COAS Gen Bajwa also advised cadets to focus their energies in pursuit of professional excellence.
Later on, he visited Baloch Regimental Centre. After laying floral wreath at the Shuhada monument, he interacted with serving and retired officers and troops of the illustrious Baloch Regiment. The COAS paid rich tribute to their supreme sacrifices.
Earlier on arrival at Baloch Regimental Centre, the COAS was received by Chief of General Staff Lt Gen Azhar Abbas.
Separately, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif Tuesday rejected the rumours about a deadlock on the shortlisted names’ and the exact time of the appointment process for the new Chief of Army Staff (COAS).
While talking to journalists outside the Parliament House building, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif was questioned about the rumoured deadlock on the COAS name between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari.
To this, Asif responded, “How can a deadlock be created without even starting the consultation process for the appointment of new COAS?” He added that consultations for the COAS appointment will be held after November 18 or 19.
He further clarified that the ruling Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) has no favourite name for the COAS appointment. Asif said that consultations will only be held on the shortlisted names forwarded to the federal government by the Pakistan Army.
“Pakistan Army has not yet sent the shortlisted names for the Army Chief’s appointment.”
