ISLAMABAD: PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi said on Sunday that President Arif Alvi will not stop the appointment of the new Chief of Army Staff (COAS).
Speaking to journalists, the former foreign minister also said that there was no discussion on the appointment of the next army chief in the party.
“Imran has also made it clear that PTI has no preference or objection to the appointment of any person as the army chief,” the party’s vice-chairman said.
He further said that “we have no disagreement with the institution and there was none in the past, we do not want any rift with it in the future, however the statement of PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto about the President was unnecessary.”
In a press conference last week, the PPP chairman clarified that the country will only accept the appointment of the COAS by the Prime Minister, who constitutionally has the sole power to do so.
He said that if President Dr. Arif Alvi stops the Prime Minister’s summary regarding the appointment of COAS, it has to be seen how he decides to go down in history, whether he upholds the Constitution or it. Violating and showing loyalty to his friend, in such a case he will suffer the consequences.
If they choose to block the PM’s summary, there will be consequences, he said.
The press conference took place before the President told his close aides that he would follow Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s advice regarding the appointment of the next Army Chief.
“I have no legal authority to block the advice of the prime minister; I have never interfered in the affairs of the state,” President Alvi – a PTI leader – had asserted.
Consultation Process
Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has said that the name of the new army chief will be revealed by Tuesday or Wednesday.
The Defense Minister said that the appointment of the Army Chief will begin from Monday.
During the show, the PML-N leader said that the change of command ceremony will take place on November 29.
As the day of General Qamar Javed Bajwa’s retirement approached, before consulting ruling partners on the key appointment, Prime Minister Shehbaz approached his brother, Muslim League-N chief Nawaz Sharif, about the decision. In a meeting held in London, the two leaders agreed to appoint the senior-most army officer as the next army chief.
The prime minister fell ill when he arrived in Pakistan after a visit to London last week, but he has begun consulting Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) leaders for the coveted spot.
Sources told the online news agency that the coalition parties have given full orders to the prime minister to make the appointment according to the prescribed procedures and traditions.
According to him, PDM chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman called the Prime Minister and inquired about his well-being. During the telephonic conversation, the two leaders discussed the situation in the country and the appointment of the new Army Chief.
Sources say that Fazal threw his weight behind Prime Minister Shehbaz and asked him to appoint the new army chief as per the agreed procedure.
He said that the majority of the leaders of the ruling coalition considered the appointment of the Army Chief as an administrative and discretionary power of the Prime Minister.
The leadership of People’s Party and JUI(F) gave full authority to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to appoint a new army chief as per his wish.
