– The minister emphasizes “institutionalization” of meeting of military boss
– says him party will think of General Faiz if his name on seniority list’
ISLAMABAD: government of The parties that make up the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) can decide call general elections to close of term of office of Army Commander General Qamar Javed Bajwa, who set expire in November, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said.
Embattled government of Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, who received power after the removal of Imran Khan in April through controversial vote of no-confidence is facing abundance of challenges on both on the economic and political fronts.
Inherited balance economy and “political martyr” Khan, some members of in government hinted at hint after hint that they were preparing—or at least want – to call early national polls in trying to find way out of political crisis that paralyzed the country.
Many also feared that political confusion would put a fragile civil democracy in risk and could lay way for in military creation for step in.
Commenting on situation Asif, who was BBC interview in Urdusaid, “That’s enough possible in government decides to hold an election before appointing a successor to General Bajwa […] until November.
“There will be a watchman set-up while. This also possible that caretaker government gone and new government is an [in power] until November.
Early election should calm the courts and military. Supposedly neutral caretaker government should be set to oversee a three-month election period.
When asked coalition would award a second extension to General Bajwa, Asif recalled that the commander-in-chief announced that he doesn’t want his term be extended.
General Bajwa will remain in office until November 29, when second three-year stay expires. He received an extension from government of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in 2019.
In April, the director general of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Major General Babar Iftikhar, confirmed that General Bajwa was “not seeking an extension of his tenure, and he will not accept it.”
“I salute him decision how did he close the door on speculation,” Asif said, noting that retired General Rahil Sharif, the predecessor of General Bajwa, also never “directly or implicitly demanded an extension.”
minister said he believed in the process for appointment military boss should to be “institutionalized” by analogy with the judicial system. “No guesses about [a chief justice]. I know who will become the main justice in 2028”.
“In my opinion, instead of discussion of appointment of army commander, process should 100 percent be based on price. There is holiness of institution of army, it should never be an object of political debate,” he said.
Asif said, government would also former Intelligence Chief Lieutenant General Faiz Hamid for in office “If his name is on seniority list”.
“All the names on in [seniority] list will be considered,” he said. added.
He argued that this discretion of in prime minister choose one of names sent military.
minister also admitted that Khan was a “people’s leader”, but stated that he failed deliver.
“He [Khan] hides his failures behind two or three statements […] and playing religion card and moving away from the anti-American narrative,” he said. added.
