Defense minister’s statement comes in the wake of PTI demand for fresh general election by October
By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said that fresh elections may be held before the appointment of a new chief of army staff (COAS), due this November.
In an interview with BBC Urdu Khawaja Asif said, “It is possible that before the appointment of [a new] army chief we call fresh elections. [That is] before November.”
COAS General Qamar Javed Bajwa is due to retire on November 29 and he has decided he would not accept another extension in his term, according to a military spokesperson.
“It is possible that before November the caretaker government is gone and a new government is installed”, said Khawaja, betraying implicit optimism that PML-N may return to government after winning elections.
The Defence Minister also said that if Lt General Faiz Hameed’s name were on the seniority list, he too would be considered for the position of COAS.
Khawaja Asif’s statement comes in the wake of PTI demand for fresh general elections by October this year.
In the interview the defence minister discussed the claims that Imran Khan’s ouster was linked to the appointment of a new army chief, said BBC Urdu.
“Imran Khan wanted to go with his personal choice on the appointment of the next army chief. He wanted [a COAS] who could protect his political interests and ensure the continuity of his rule,” Khawaja Asif said.
The defence minister was asked if everything was to stop this “personal choice”. He denied the impression, and stressed that it was up to a prime minister to choose one of the names sent by the Army.
Asif said that when Nawaz Sharif appointed Raheel Sharif and Qamar Javed Bajwa as COAS in 2013 and 2018 respectively, he “respected” the proposal sent by “the institution” – a reference to the Pakistan Army.
He said Raheel Sharif never wanted an extension in his term.
Asked whether Lt Gen Faiz Hameed could be appointed COAS especially when the PML-N had been levelling allegations against him, Khawaja Asif said, “If Lt Gen Faiz Hameed’s name appears in the seniority list, it will be absolutely considered. All the names on the list will be considered.”
However, Khawaja Asif then made a key statement about the list of the senior general to be sent to the prime minister.
“If the defence minister brings the names of five officers to the prime minister and the army suggests the name of General Faiz Hameed among them, then I do not think that the defence ministry or the prime minister has the capacity to say that instead of five, three or eight names must be sent.”
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