ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said that the notification of appointment of new army chief will be issued by Nov 26.
The sitting army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa will hand over the charge of the army’s command to the newly-appointed COAS on Nov 29 in Rawalpindi.
Meanwhile, after receiving summary today, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held an important meeting on Monday noon with some federal ministers to short-list two Lt-Generals for the appointment of chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee and the Chief of Army Staff.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah, and Law Minister Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, etc., attended the meeting, chaired by PM Shehbaz.
According to sources, Prime Minister’s Office on Monday received the summary from the defence ministry regarding the appointment of a new army chief which carries names of five senior most Lt-Generals.
The PM Office, however, did not disclose the names of five Lt-Generals mentioned in the list sent by the GHQ to Defence Ministry which was forwarded to PM Office by Defence Ministry on Monday (Nov 21), marking the beginning of the process to select the CJCSC and COAS.
A couple of days ago, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said through Twitter that the name of new army chief will be announced either on Tuesday (Nov 22) or Wednesday (Nov 23).
The new army chief will take charge on November 29 as the sitting COAS General Qamar Javed Bajwa hand over the charge to the new comer.
As process for the appointment of new army chief has started on Monday (today), the government hoped that President Dr Arif Alvi will not create any “hurdle” in the smooth process.
President Dr Alvi and PTI leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi have also stated that they will not oppose the appointment of army chief by the coalition government.
