There is possibility of holding elections before appointment of new COAS: Khawaja Asif

LAHORE (92 News) - Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said that the general elections are likely to be held before the appointment of new army chief.

In an interview with BBC Urdu, he said that there will be a caretaker government before November or maybe possible caretaker government ends before November and a new government may come. “Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa has announced himself that he does not want extension in his service period. I consider the decision of the COAS is welcoming because doors of many speculations will be closed with it. General Raheel Sharif also never directly asked for extension. Procedure of appointing COAS in the country should be institutionalized,” he added.

He said that rather than debating on the matter of appointing the COAS, this method should be on 100 percent merit. “This is very big and very important matter. It should not be the topic of political debate,” he maintained.

Khawaja Asif said that if the name of Lieutenant General Faiz Hameed would be on the seniority list then definitely he would be considered. “If there will be name of Faiz Hameed on the list, then the Defence Ministry or Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would have the capacity to ask for eight names instead of five,” he concluded.