-Khawaja Asif rejects reports of consultation between Nawaz, Shehbaz on new appointment -Imran argues if PM can consult a ‘fugitive’ on COAS appointment
-Interior Minister suggests revocation of Legislation on extending Army Chief’s tenure
-Seeks Judiciary-like system for Chief’s appointment
By Our Defence
Correspondent
ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif Monday maintained that the army chief’s appointment will be done on the prime minister’s discretion.
Speaking with journalists outside the National Assembly, the Minister said: “The Prime Minister has discretion regarding the Army Chief’s appointment; therefore, the Prime Minister will make a decision on the appointment.”
When questioned if a decision on Army Chief’s appointment has been made, the Defence Minister responded in the negative.
Responding to another question about the role of PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif in the appointment, Khawaja Asif said that it will be done on the “premier’s discretion” and he will decide.
When asked if Nawaz Sharif was not being consulted on the matter, the minister said: “Consultations have not yet taken place on the Army Chief’s appointment. These are just newspaper reports.”
Last week, PM Shehbaz flew to London — after returning from his visit to Egypt to attend and co-host the United Nations’ COP27 — where he met the PML-N supremo and party’s senior leadership.
It was reported that discussions during these high-level meetings revolved around crucial political matters in Pakistan including the new army chief’s appointment.
Meanwhile, after extending his visit twice following health reasons, the prime minister returned to Islamabad earlier in the day; however, the decision on the important appointment — according to the defence minister — is yet to be taken.
Commenting on the U-turn taken by PTI chief Imran Khan on the United States-backed conspiracy in relation to his ouster in April this year following a no-confidence motion in the parliament, Asif asked if it was the first time that Khan has denied something.
“He denies everything. In the past four years, he has talked so much. Has he stood by any of his statements?”
After spending months giving statements about a cypher from the US which allegedly meant to topple his government, PTI chief Khan — in an interview — signalled the desire to mend ties with the US through cooperation with Washington in the future.
The minister added that the former prime minister himself does not remember the state he is in and what he says.
“Yesterday, Imran Khan said that the FIR [first information report] of his murder has not been registered. This man does not know what he says. If some people are ready to believe his words, it is their matter,” Khawaja Asif said commenting on the contradictory statements by the PTI chairman.
It should be noted that the PML-N leadership had resolved to appoint the senior-most officer whose name is at the top of the list that would be sent to the government, as per reports; while incumbent Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa will retire on November 29.
PTI chief Imran Khan called out Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for consulting PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif regarding the appointment of the new chief of army staff.
“How can the PM consult a fugitive [Nawaz Sharif] on a chief of army staff’s appointment,” he said referring to PM Shehbaz last week’s visit to London.
“It is impossible to imagine that a convicted and fugitive person will now take important decisions in Pakistan,” he said.
The former premier further added that they are only thinking about protecting their wealth, questioning whether they should “be trusted with the important decisions of the country?”
Imran Khan claims that PM Shehbaz violated the Official Secrecy Act by consulting Nawaz on the new COAS appointment.
Separately, in a bid to avoid conflicts and politics over the appointment of the army chief, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah on Monday suggested that the legislation introduced during PTI’s government to extend the tenure of the army chief should be abolished.
In an interview with a private TV channel, Sanaullah said that the legislation will keep disturbing every army chief in the future as well. Referring to the procedure for the appointment of the chief justice of Pakistan, the interior minister underscored the need for devising a formula for the appointment of COAS. He was of the view that the senior-most officer should be appointed as the next army chief through a judiciary-like system.
“The prime minister has discretion regarding the army chief’s appointment,” he said, adding that the prime minister should consult with all the stakeholders about the appointment. The interior minister said that the prime minister will announce the name of the new COAS in the next few days.
Responding to a question about the differences between Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz over the name of the next army chief, the interior minister termed the reports as rumours.
