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.
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He said the long march would suffer a serious blow the day the appointment decision was made. COAS General Qamar Javed Bajwa, the incumbent army chief, is set to retire later this month and he has ruled out an extension in his tenure and so has the military.
The defence minister added that the name of the new COAS will be decided with the consensus of the political and military leadership.
Khawaja Asif said there is no confusion in the appointment process that Imran Khan is trying to create nor there is any deadlock. He clarified that the prime minister has the power to appoint the new COAS but he takes decisions after holding consultations with the institutions.
Remember that already 6 names of senior Generals sent by GHQ to the Prime Minister for the appointment of new COAS.
While talking to the media Defence Minister takes a jibe at Imran khan and said “We struggled in four tenures of dictatorships to make the institutions neutral. Imran Khan today said that the nation will not forgive when they are complying with the constitution,”
“Imran Khan is not a political worker or politician thus he is lacking tolerance. Politicians when deprived of power, they don’t use this language. We are political workers and have some traditions,”
“There is an environment of terrorism in the northern region, our military is fighting today against terrorism. It is the duty of the nation to stand by its armed forces,” Defence Minister said.
