ISLAMABAD: Minister for Defence Khawaja Asif announced on Monday that the process of appointing the army chief and the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff committee (CJCSC) had begun.
“The process of appointing [officials] to Pakistan Army’s highest positions has started today. God willing, the appointments will be made soon as per the constitutional requirements,” the minister said in a tweet.
Speaking to the media in Islamabad separately after a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Asif ruled out reports of a deadlock over the name of the new army chief.
The defence minister said the PML-N was consulting its allies over the appointment to the coveted post, and there was no pressure on the government regarding the army chief’s appointment.
The senior minister also said the process of appointing the army chief would be completed by November 25, and the summary would be moved within a day or two.
“Once we receive the summary, we will discuss the names, which will probably be five or six senior-most officers,” Asif added.
He added that the summary had not yet reached the PM’s Office.
Once the prime minister approves the names, he sends the summary to the president for ratification. It is then again sent back to the premier’s office for an official announcement.
In a press conference last week, the PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari made it clear that the country would only accept the appointment of COAS made by the prime minister, who is the only one constitutionally empowered to do so.
He said if President Dr Arif Alvi blocks the PM’s summary regarding the COAS appointment, it would need to be seen how he decides to go down in history, whether by upholding the Constitution or violating it and showing loyalty to his friend, in which case he will suffer the consequences.
“If he opts to block the PM’s summary, it will have consequences,” he said. However, PTI stresses that the president will work in line with the law and not create hurdles in the process.
Read more: Prime Minister’s Office receives summary for army chief’s appointment
