ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has said the process for appointment of a new Army Chief will start on Friday (tomorrow) and the nominations will be shared by Pakistan Army.
“Consultations on the appointment of next Army Chief will begin after November 18 and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has no ‘favourite’ for the position.”
Speaking to journalists outside the parliament house, Asif brushed aside the speculations about a deadlock between PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and former president PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari over the name of the next army chief.
He said there was no question of a deadlock over the matter when the consultation has not even started yet.
The Defence Minister said there is no deadlock over the nomination of the Army Chief, as the process has not started yet. Replying to a query, the Defence Minister rejected the possibility of any favourites of government among the nominees for a new Army Chief.
Speaking about PTI Chief Imran Khan, Khawaja Aisf said the government is mulling over a punitive action against him for damaging national solidarity, security and integrity for his vested interests.
He said Imran Khan has committed a crime against the state by damaging the national cohesion and the country’s bilateral relations with other states.
The minister said that the government was mulling over a punitive action against PTI chief Imran Khan for “damaging national solidarity, security and integrity for his vested interests”.
He said that no one had the right to harm the country’s prestige and honour.
“Imran Khan has committed a crime against the state by damaging the country’s bilateral relations and national cohesion.”
The defence minister’s statement comes a day after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif returned home after his extended stay in London where he was believed to have held closed-door consultations with the elder Sharif and other leaders on the appointment of a new army chief.
