Elections could take place in Pakistan before the superannuation of COAS Bajwa.
Defense Minister Khawaja Asif indicated in an interview with BBC Urdu that new general elections in Pakistan could be held before COAS Qamar Bajwa’s retirement in November.
In the interview, Khawaja Asif also stated that the next general elections in the country are likely to take place in November.
He also stated that elections could take place before the new chief of army staff is appointed (COAS).
The defense minister accused former Prime Minister Imran Khan of wanting to choose the new army chief on his own whim. “He [Imran Khan] wanted to keep his dictatorship and political interests protected,” Asif stated.
He believes that, like the judiciary, the appointment of the army chief should be institutionalized today.
“There is no conjecture [in the judiciary], and I know who will be chief justice in 2028,” he stated.
“In my perspective, rather than bringing it up, the new army chief’s nomination should be based on merit.” “This is a huge and critical problem that should never be debated in politics,” he stated during the interview.
In response to a question, the minister stated that if the name of Lieutenant General Faiz Hameed, who is close to Imran Khan, appears on the seniority list, he will be considered for the position of COAS.
The minister responded to a query by saying that the COAS, General Qamar Bajwa, had refused to take an extension.
