How can a ‘convicted person’ be consulted for new COAS: Fawad

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Fawad Chaudhry on Sunday said that how could a convicted person, referring to PML-N Quaid Nawaz Sharif, be consulted on the appointment of the army chief as institutions would have to think how to maintain their dignity.

Fawad’s comments come a day after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif went to London to attend Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral and offer his condolences. Federal Minister Khurram Dastgir on Saturday said that Premier Shehbaz would make the decision on the appointment of the army chief after consulting his brother, Nawaz, in London.

Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa is set to retire on November 28.

Fawad said that the current situation will lead to elections or revolution, calling on the Punjab cabinet and parliamentary party to unite with the people for real freedom. “Elections are the most important issue of Pakistan.”

He said that skyrocketing inflation has broken the back of the people of the country and only political stability can tame it.

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“A country is run according to the Constitution,” he said. “The Pakistan Democratic Movement asked to give six to seven months to the interim government to work things out, but a country cannot run like this.”

The PTI leader hoped that the matter would not reach long march, saying that conducting elections were more of an issue of Pakistan than the PTI. “The PDM should agree for elections, the rest of the framework will be decided.”

Fawad also said that it is in the interest of the institutions to reduce their role in politics, adding that the institutions had a huge political role at the moment. “It is important that the political parties and institutions are on the same page. Whether there is a negotiation or a discussion, it should be in front of the public or in front of the media as the time for decisions in closed rooms is over.”