ISLAMABAD: Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has said on Wednesday that any of the five nominated names can be appointed as the Army Chief.
In a press conference, Asif announced that the process will start either at the end of this month or early next and it will be done in accordance with the law and the constitution.
Asif added that it is the discretion of the current prime minister to forward any name from the defense ministry.
The defense minister said that in the past, other names have been selected for the post of army chief, apart from the five names recommended.
Talking about the appointment of Army Chief on the basis of seniority, the Defense Minister said that all three-star generals are eligible for it.
The minister also commented on the possibility of the next general elections and said that the elections will be held as per the schedule.
Taking a jibe at PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s concerns over the appointment of a top army officer, Asif said the former prime minister was worried about November approaching, but the month would pass peacefully.
He said that Imran Khan has proved that he is not fit for the prime ministership, adding that people like him come to power when the Result Transmission System (RTS) stops working.
“Imran Khan bites the hand that feeds him. As long as Khan was in power, he was in debt; and look how he talks today,” Asif said, adding that Khan when “he “They apologize when they meet them but flare up during their rallies.
The Defense Minister further said that Khan Sahib talks about pardoning cases on behalf of the Punjab government and asked which cases of his (N) League have been pardoned.
“He should list one of our cases which has been pardoned. We know he sent his message to Punjab through President Pakistan Arif Alvi,” the minister said.
It should be noted that the current Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa will complete his extended term in November this year. He was appointed in 2016.
Fawad abused Asif.
Reacting to Asif’s press conference, PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry on Wednesday said the minister was a “destruction of Pakistan’s national security”.
“He has an Imran Khan phobia. A mentally challenged person has been appointed as the defense minister,” said the former information minister.
Fawad added that Asif “abuses Khan when surrounded by government security.”
He further said that the minister neither talks about Kashmir nor talks about the defense of Pakistan.
