ISLAMABAD: The government has decided ‘in principle’ to allow former army chief General (retd) Raheel Sharif to head the Saudi-led military alliance of 34 Muslim nations, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif confirmed on Saturday.
“It has been decided in principle that Gen (retd) Raheel Sharif will go there [to Saudi Arabia] to lead the alliance,” the minister told a private news channel, putting to rest weeks of speculation. “The formal process in this regard has yet to be completed,” he said.
Asif said Saudi Arabia’s government had requested Pakistan to allow the former army chief to lead the 34-nation allowance. When asked about whether Gen Raheel had applied for a no objection certificate (NOC), the minister said “it is not needed after the two countries have come to an agreement.”
“It is only a matter of time before Gen Raheel leaves for Saudi Arabia to put in place a structure for the alliance,” Asif said. “The alliance has no structure as of yet. Gen Raheel will adopt a framework once he arrives in the Kingdom.”
Raheel Sharif named chief of Islamic military coalition, says Khawaja Asif
The minister added that a body comprising the defence ministers of all member states will function as an advisory council for the alliance. The council is expected to hold its first meeting in May, he said.
Raheel Sharif did not seek govt approval to join Saudi alliance: Khawaja Asif
Asif on January 6 confirmed reports that Saudi Arabia had decided to appoint Gen Raheel as the head of the military alliance of Muslim countries it had announced last year. However, the minister kicked up controversy five days later when he told the Senate that the former army chief had not asked the government for clearance to lead the coalition.
This had led to weeks of debate and speculation about whether the government would allow Gen Raheel to take up the position.
Well played Nawaz Sharif .Recommend
How it will change the course of the two major conflicts that the Muslim Ummah is facing i.e. #Kashmir and #Palestine? Recommend
dirty game of politics played to soil the generals reputation; that the general will head the coalition was a forgone conclusion; no politician can live with the thought that a general is more popular with the people. Recommend
Unbelievable.Recommend
This will lead to Shia Sunni Conflict, Pakistan should stay from this. Recommend
There goes whatever peace we had in our country. Why did he decide to take part in someone else’s war? Recommend
The Parliament should be dismissed since nobody heeds anything that it says. Recommend
We are proud of Mian Sahib. In one stroke he has destroyed the myth that Pakistan is isolated and has no friends. Our great General has been appointed Chief of 34-nation Islamic Military Alliance and these dishonest intellectuals call it an isolation. Recommend