The pending appointment of Pakistan’s new army chief has made it to speculations. As current Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa’s tenure will come to an end this month, the media reports say that the formal process of appointing the new army chief has begun.
According to a number of media sources, the summary of the nomination of a new army chief has been delivered to the Pakistan Prime Minister’s Office by the ministry of defence. The reports, according to several journalists, are merely guesswork. According to sources cited by The Express Tribune, the Prime Minister’s Office on Monday received the ministry of defense’s summary about the appointment of a new army head. Five people’s names were listed in the summary, according to the sources.
The development has not yet been confirmed by the Prime Minister’s Office. A senior government official denied reports that the military and civilian leadership in Pakistan were at odds over who would become the country’s next chief of army staff.
On condition of anonymity, the high-ranking source stated that “by Monday evening, a clear picture of the process of appointment will emerge.” Notably, the incumbent COAS General Qamar Javed Bajwa’s six-year term as COAS will come to an end on November 29, when the new army commander is scheduled to start work.
According to the report, many people think that Imran Khan’s long march was related to the army’s shift of command. Two days prior to the change in the army chief, on November 26, he has urged his followers to assemble in Rawalpindi.
According to a news report, the seniority list for the position of chief of army staff and chairman of the joint chiefs of staff committee includes Lieutenant General Asim Munir, Lieutenant General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, Lieutenant General Azhar Abbas, Lieutenant General Numan Mahmud, and Lieutenant General Faiz Hameed.
Khawaja Asif, Pakistan’s defence minister, had earlier stated that the selection process will start on Monday and that the new commander would be chosen on Tuesday or Wednesday, according to Dawn. The government “cannot overlook the centrality of the army in the system,” he continued. According to some media sources, President Arif Alvi may delay the notification for 25 days.