Islamabad: The formal process of appointing the next army chief is set to begin “very soon” as Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, who otherwise spends his weekend in Lahore, remained in the capital awaiting an immediate decision.
While Defense Minister Khawaja Asif told a private television channel that the process of appointing the new Army Chief will begin from Monday, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah claimed on Friday that the new Army Chief will be announced in the next day or two. will be given. .
The conflicting statements by the ministers seem to put the government under intense pressure as some observers believe it could signal a possible deadlock between the civil and military authorities over the selection of the next army chief.
With all eyes on the prime minister, official sources said closed-door consultations are underway in the corridors of power to forge a consensus among stakeholders for the key appointment.
Sources said the process of appointing a new chief would begin “very soon”, but did not say whether the decision would be made on Friday night or in the next two days.
However, some sources claim that the Prime Minister’s Office can announce the appointment of a new army chief within 24 hours.
Although the appointment of the army chief is the sole prerogative of the prime minister, the coalition government is keen to consult all stakeholders before taking a final decision.
The objective of this initiative is to reach a broad consensus among key stakeholders so that the decision is in the interest of the organization and the country.
In the last two days, intense political activities were witnessed in Islamabad, in which Finance Minister Ishaq Dar continued the series of meetings with President Dr. Arif Alvi, former President Asif Ali Zardari and JUI(F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman. Efforts aimed at ensuring a smooth transition in Army command.
His meeting with Alvi on Friday was considered important as the summary of the army chief’s appointment is to be signed by the President. There were rumors that the President, who is a PTI leader, could block the summary at the behest of his party chief Imran Khan.
Dar, on behalf of PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and Prime Minister Shehbaz, met the presidents and leaders of the coalition partners, who cannot meet him in person due to Covid-19.
During Dar’s busy day, all eyes were on the Ministry of Defence, which is to send a summary of eligible candidates for the posts of Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee and Army Chief to the Prime Minister’s Office.
Sources said the government recalled the defense secretary, who was abroad, to initiate the process.
The five most senior generals are likely to be named in the summary. Traditionally, the Prime Minister consults the outgoing Army Chief on the new appointment. However, the advice of the outgoing Army Chief is not binding on the Prime Minister.
In 2013 and 2016, then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif ignored the outgoing Army Chief’s advice.
One difference this time though is that the political situation is volatile and the Muslim League (N) does not have its own man in the presidency. In the past, the opposition never raised any question on the appointment of the new army chief. But the current opposition leader Imran Khan is taking keen interest. In fact, many observers believe that one of the main objectives of Imran’s long march is to influence the appointment of a new chief.
Against this backdrop, there are fears that there may be mischief at play in the Presidency.
Because of these concerns, the PML-N-led government on Friday stepped up its efforts to smooth the appointment of the army chief as Dar met President Alvi a day after meeting Zardari and Maulana Fazlur Rehman. met
Zardari issued a separate statement regarding the appointment of the military chief while the JUI(F) chief met Prime Minister Shehbaz despite being in quarantine.
Sources in the ruling coalition said the finance minister and the president deliberated on the current political situation and important appointments, discussing that there should be no deadlock on constitutional and legal issues. Soon after Dar’s meeting with the President, Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani also met the President.
The flurry of meetings over the past few days suggested that the political leadership had stepped up its efforts to end any potential deadlock over the appointment of the military czar. The political elite also considered a long march by the PTI, which is expected to gather in the twin cities soon to demand snap polls.
Although Imran Khan has announced a step back on the appointment of the military chief, the recent meetings came amid fears that the president could block the government’s decision if the prime minister finally sends a summary. to the President for approval.
These fears were reinforced when PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry tweeted that Dr. Alvi would fulfill his constitutional obligations regarding the appointment of the Army Chief. Fawad said that it should be clear that whatever steps the President takes will have the full support of Imran Khan.
Despite announcing a step back from the appointment of the COAS, Imran once again spoke on the matter saying that Nawaz Sharif wanted to appoint an army chief who would meet a legion of journalists in Lahore. May time disqualify him [Imran].
Meanwhile, Zardari issued a separate statement on Friday, saying that all three-star generals are equally and fully qualified to head the army. However, Zardari said that politicking the appointment of the next army chief should be avoided at all costs as it would harm the institution.
The debate over the Army Chief’s appointment also forced Maulana Fazlur Rehman to reach PM House to meet Prime Minister Shehbaz, who contracted Covid-19 shortly after returning from London and is currently in quarantine.
The official press release issued after the meeting between Dar and Alvi said that the Minister briefed the President on the overall economic and financial situation of the country.
It said the Finance Minister also apprised the President about the various measures taken by the government to provide relief to the people, especially the underprivileged population of the country’s low-lying areas as well as the floods. Affected people.
He also said that the two also discussed various issues related to finance and economy.
