ISLAMABAD: Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has said that the process for appointing the new chief of army staff will begin within weeks and promised that it will be done as per the Constitution.
“An outgoing chief should have time to interact with his troops,” addressing a news conference Pakistan’s defense minister said.
“The statement from the COAS has removed ambiguity surrounding the matter,” he added.
On November 29, Army Chief Gen. Qamar Bajwa is scheduled to retire. The departing COAS put an end to any rumors that he might receive another extension when he announced at a Washington event that he would be leaving at the end of his extended tenure in November.
The defense minister praised Gen. Bajwa’s remarks and said it put an end to the uncertainty that had persisted for a few weeks.
“I don’t know who are accompanying with the army chief in the visit,” replying a question he said.
“In my view all three-star Generals are eligible to become COAS, but the names from the GHQ have its own weightage,” defense minister said.
According to Mr. Asif, the choice of the army chief will be made at the prime minister’s discretion and in compliance with the law and the Constitution.
The president would nominate the services heads on the prime minister’s suggestion, as stated in Article 243(3) of the Constitution.
He claimed that the standard procedure was for the General Headquarters to choose the army chief from a list of five nominations before routing the list through the Defense Ministry. But at the same time, he recalled that army chiefs had occasionally been chosen from outside the suggested panel in the past.
It is anticipated that the choice would be made by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif after consulting with his brother, PML-N supreme leader Nawaz Sharif, and other allies.
When a campaign is launched against the military, it is my responsibility as the defense portfolio holder to protect the institution, he said. Asif stated, “We don’t want any action that offers relief; rather, we want an action without any provision for relief.
Government is a transient issue; institutional cohesion is crucial, he emphasized. He stated, “Imran Khan is requesting amnesty in cases against him.
