PM has authority to appoint army chief, says Qadir Mandokhail

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) MNA Qadir Khan Mandokhail has asserted that the prime minister has the authority to appoint new army chief as per the Constitution of Pakistan, ARY News reported on Saturday.

Speaking to the ARY News programme ‘Aiteraz Hai’, the PPP leader said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif can consult anyone he wants on appoint of new Chief of Army Staff (COAS) as there were no legal restrictions.

Qadir Mandokhail further said it was possible that the appointment of new army chief was discussed during the meeting between PM Shehbaz Sharif and PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, and there should be no objection.

In response to a question, he said that PML-N will take a decision on COAS appointment only after taking PPP leadership into confidence.

Earlier in the day, former prime minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan said he does not want to appoint Chief of Army Staff (COAS), reiterating that the army chief should be appointed on merit.

In a televised address to long march protestors in Lala Musa, the former premier noted that allegations were levelled against him for making the appointment of army chief controversial.

Imran Khan also criticised Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) bigwigs for holding a meeting in London to make the important decision about the army chief’s appointment.

“The important decisions of the country were taken abroad and by those who have looted Pakistan for the last 30 years,” he said, adding that he does not want a NAB chief, a judge or an army chief of his choice as he wants “the best people on the basis of merit”.

It is pertinent to mention here that Defence Minister Khawaja Asif confirmed that consultations were held on the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) appointment in the meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif.

He said on Twitter that speculations were being made that the decision of the COAS appointment was taken in the Nawaz-Shehbaz meeting in London. He confirmed that consultations were held on the COAS appointment, however, the decision was not taken yet.

READ: NOVEMBER WILL BE DECISIVE MONTH, SAYS KHAWAJA ASIF

Asif said that the decision for the COAS appointment will be taken after consultation under the constitutional process.