All claims about new COAS to fall flat: Shujaat

PML-Q chief warns against making army chief appointment controversial

ISLAMABAD:

 

PML-Q chief and former premier Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain on Tuesday prayed that the “politics of confrontation” does not succeed in the country, saying most politicians were bogged down in accusations and counter-accusations, adding that the spirit of patience was weakening.

He also said that the army chief is the guarantor of national security hence his appointment should not be made controversial.

“The spirit of tolerance is weakening in the country as most politicians have engaged in politics of accusation,” the PML-Q chief said in a statement.

Shujaat said that the army and the judiciary were important national institutions and added that the army chief is the guarantor of the security of Pakistan.

“After becoming the army chief, he [COAS] is not the protector of any family, tribe or region but the entire country,” he added.

The PML-Q chief said all claims regarding the army chief appointment will fall flat as the decision regarding the nomination for the powerful post would be based on military’s input.

He added that the post of chief justice of Pakistan was highly respected and should not be dragged into political affairs.

The debate over the appointment of the new chief intensified since the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the military, confirmed last week that General Bajwa would doff his uniform on November 29 at the completion of six-year tenure.

The debate is also linked to the current political stalemate stemming from PTI Chairman and former premier Imran Khan’s long march.

Political observers are of the view that one of the objectives of Imran’s long march is to influence the army chief’s appointment though he has denied such claims.

However, the PTI chairman has questioned the legitimacy of the current prime minister to appoint the army chief.

He has been consistently saying that merit should be followed in such key appointments and while referring to PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif questioned how an absconder would be allowed to make the decision.