ISLAMABAD: The administration took efforts to stress that the nomination of next army chief would be made in accordance with the Constitution, but the topic nonetheless dominated Friday’s national political debate.The announcement was made as widespread rumours and controversy surrounded the impending change of guard.Confusion and rumours regarding the matter increased as a result of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s protracted stay in London with his top advisers, ostensibly to negotiate the important appointment and other matters of national importance with his elder brother Nawaz Sharif.
The prime minister left London for his native country late on Friday night following what the media claimed was an important discussion with his older brother. Later, the prime minister declared that while choosing the name of the new army head, the constitutional process would be followed.In addition, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said on Twitter that no decision had yet been made by the PML-N leadership over who would succeed outgoing Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa. At a news conference last month, Asif stated that the appointment process would start at the beginning of November. On November 29, Army Chief Gen. Qamar Bajwa is scheduled to retire.
The PML-high N’s brass determined in a meeting in London that the senior-most army general would become the new military leader, according to news sources, which led to the minister’s tweet.Among other things, the premier and the defence minister travelled to London to ask the elder Sharif for advice on the important position.Since PM Shehbaz attended the COP-27 summit in Egypt before leaving for London, it was assumed that the major reason for his journey was to finalise the name of the next army chief in conjunction with his brother.
