Asif’s ‘army appoints its own chief’ remarks draw PTI’s ire

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif’s remarks that the “army appoints its own chief” has drawn criticism from the former ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf which termed him a “danger to Pakistan” and demanded that elections be held so that a new government could make important appointments.

Asif’s comments came during an interview with a private news channel when he was asked about the difference between the PTI and the PML-N on the appointment of army chiefs.

The defence minister called for an end to the controversy over the appointment of army chiefs, saying that he was at the same post at the time of the appointment of two army chiefs – former chief of army staff Gen (retd) Raheel Sharif and the incumbent army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa.

Both times, he said, PML-N Quaid Nawaz Sharif was the prime minister but he had no "personal motive" behind those appointments.

Asif made it clear during the interview that the process of consultation for the selection of the army chief included seeking input from the defence secretary. He said he had taken the defence secretary’s input before the appointment of Gen (retd) Sharif. “The defence secretary was a very honourable man who said any person awarded three stars was suitable for the post,” Asif added.

He criticised PTI Chairman Imran Khan for questioning and "casting doubt" on the appointment of the new army chief in November.

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"Why can't there be a system for this (COAS appointment) to happen within the institution?" Asif asked, giving the example of the judiciary which he said had a system in place to appoint the chief justice.

He said that the extent to which the army chief's appointment was being discussed in the public realm was unprecedented. "I believe that this [matter] was over-exposed when Gen [retd] Musharraf took an extension of up to nine years," he added.

PTI leader and former information minister Fawad Chaudhry quickly took to Twitter to give his two cents on the matter. "People like the defence minister are a danger to Pakistan."

He asked if the elected prime minister did not appoint the army chief then “his purpose for being the premier is only to make money”.

"This PML-N group from 1985 is the biggest hurdle in the progress of Pakistan," he said. “It is the right of the people to elect a new government.”

PTI social media head Azhar Mashwani also reacted to the defence minister's remarks, saying that he had "openly revealed the real purpose of bringing the PDM (Pakistan Democratic Movement) to power".

"He has suggested that the authority of appointing the army chief should be taken away from the prime minister and given to the serving army chief," Mashwani added.