LONDON/ISLAMABAD: PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have finally decided in their London huddles that the senior most Lt-General will be appointed the new army chief.
With this decision, Sharifs have ended controversy surrounding the appointment of new army chief while incumbent COAS General Qamar Javed Bajwa has started farewell visits to different corps.
Moreover, the Sharifs decision to pick the senior most general for the COAS position has ended the chance for a couple of junior generals who were aspiring to be the next army chief. This decision will also leave no chance for PTI chief Imran Khan to make controversial the appointment of new army chief.
The decision was taken during a meeting of the PML-N leadership, with party supremo Nawaz Sharif, vice president Maryam Nawaz, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in presence.
Army Chief General Bajwa is set to retire on November 29 and the PML-N — the major stakeholder in the ruling coalition — has resolved to appoint the senior-most officer whose name is at the top in the list that would be sent to the government.
After final meeting with Nawaz Sharif, PM Shehbaz told reporters in London that the army chief’s appointment is a constitutional matter that would be decided according to the merit.
Sharifs also decided to take into confidence its coalition partners about the decisions taken in London.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will be returning to Pakistan after holding key meetings with elder brother Nawaz Sharif. Shehbaz reached London after concluding his two-day visit to Egypt, where he attended the COP27 summit.
