Process to appoint new Pak military chief has begun
The process of making appointments to the top slots of the Pakistan Army had begun, a senior Pakistani minister said. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif made the announcement in a tweet on Monday, adding that the process would be completed soon in line with all constitutional requirements.
Separately, in an informal talk with reporters in Islamabad, Asif ruled out reports of a deadlock over the name of the new army chief.
“There is no deadlock. Once the summary is received, then a discussion will be held,” the senior PML-N leader said.
The defence minister said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would take the army leadership into confidence, following which a decision would be taken. “Currently, there are five to six senior-most candidates. But no decision has been taken as yet on the names.”
Earlier, a media report claimed that Pakistan's Ministry of Defence
recommended five names to the Prime Minister's Office for the appointment of a new army chief who will succeed General Qamar Javed Bajwa and assume charge on November 29.
Under the Pakistan Army Act (PAA) 1952, the Ministry of Defence should issue the ‘discharge summary' of the incumbent chief of army staff (COAS) to pave the way for the appointment of his successor.
General Bajwa, 61, is scheduled to retire on November 29 after a three-year extension. He has ruled out seeking another extension.
The Prime Minister's Office on Monday received the report from the defence ministry regarding the appointment of a new army chief, The Express Tribune newspaper reported, quoting sources.
The report has the names of five top generals, it said. The new army chief will take charge on November 29 as the incumbent General Bajwa would retire after completing six years in office.
There has been extraordinary
interest in the appointment of his successor as many believe ousted prime minister Imran Khan's long march is linked to the change of command in the army.
He has asked his supporters to gather in Rawalpindi on November 26, two days before Bajwa hands over the baton to the new army chief. A senior government
official dismissed speculation on Sunday that there has been any civil-military deadlock over the key appointment.
“You will see the clear picture will emerge regarding the process of appointment,” a highranking official told Dawn newspaper, requesting anonymity.
As per the seniority list, Lt-general Asim Munir, Lt-general Sahir Shamshad Mirza, Lt-general Azhar Abbas, Lt-general Numan Mahmud and Lt-general Faiz Hameed are in contention for the job of chairman joint chiefs of staff committee and the army chief.
The debate over the appointment of the new chief has intensified since the Inter-services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the military, confirmed last week that General Bajwa would doff his uniform on November 29.
The debate is also linked to the current political stalemate stemming from Khan's long march demanding early elections.
Political observers are of the view that one of the objectives of Khan's long march is to influence the army chief's appointment even though Khan has denied such claims. A source in the Prime Minister's Office told Dawn that the defence ministry will initiate the summary for the appointment of a new army chief before November 27.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif recently paid a private visit to London where he consulted his brother and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif on the issue and after his return he took all coalition partners on board.