Defence Minister Khawaja Asif announced that the process of appointing the new Army chief and the Chairman joint chiefs of staff committee had begun.
“The process of appointing [officials] to Pakistan Army’s highest positions has started today. God willing, the appointments will be made soon as per the constitutional requirements,” the minister said in a tweet.
While Speaking to the Media in Islamabad separately after a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Khawaja Asif ruled out reports of a deadlock over the name of the new army chief.
The defence minister said that PML-N was consulting its allies over the appointment to the COAS post, and there was no pressure on the government regarding the Army chief’s appointment.
The senior minister also said the process of appointing the Army chief would be completed by 25th November, and the summary would be moved within a day or two.
“Once we receive the summary, we will discuss the names, which will probably be five or six senior-most officers,” Asif added.
He added that the summary had not yet reached the PM’s Office.
Once the prime minister approves the names, he sends the summary to the President for ratification. After which it is again sent back to the Premier’s office for an official announcement.
In a press conference last week, the PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari made it clear that the country would only accept the appointment of COAS made by the Prime minister, who is the only one constitutionally empowered to do so.
He said if President Dr. Arif Alvi blocks the PM’s summary regarding the COAS appointment, it would need to be seen how he decides to go down in history, whether by upholding the Constitution or violating it and showing loyalty to his friend, in which case he will suffer the consequences.
“If he opts to block the PM’s summary, it will have consequences,” he said. However, PTI stresses that the president will work in line with the law and not create hurdles in the process.
While addressing journalists, PTI Vice President Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that President Alvi will not stop the summary for the appointment of a new Army chief. Remember that COAS General Bajwa going to retire on 29th November 2022 and according to the latest a list of Six Senior Generals have been sent by GHQ to Defence Minister for the appointment of a new COAS.
Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif said that the name of the new chief of army staff (COAS) would come out by Tuesday or Wednesday.
Speaking at a talk show on a private media channel, the defence minister said that the process army chief’s appointment will start on Monday. During the show, the PML-N leader said that the change of command ceremony would be held on 29 November 2022.
Read More : New name for the appointment of COAS will be revealed by Tuesday or Wednesday – Defence Minister
