Elections may be held before the selection of a new army leader.

The option of conducting general elections before the appointment of a new army chief, according to Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, cannot be ruled out.

“It is feasible that we hold elections before the [new] army chief’s appointment, before November,” he stated in an interview. At that time, a caretaker government will be in place. It’s also feasible that the caretaker administration will be replaced by a new government before November.”

Asif was reacting to the interviewer after she mentioned that former Prime Minister Imran Khan was removed over the nomination of the new army chief.

“In the topic of the new army chief’s appointment, Imran Khan decided to go his own way. He intended to defend his political interests and assure the continuation of his authority.

Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, the current Chief of Army Staff (COAS), will serve until November 29 of this year, when his second three-year term ends.

In 2019, the former PTI administration granted Gen Bajwa an extension.

In response to a query regarding whether the PML-N-led coalition government may extend the existing COAS’s term, Asif stated that Bajwa has previously stated that he does not want his term extended.

The announcement had “locked the doors of speculation,” according to the military minister. ‘Choice of army chief is the PM’s prerogative.’

He was then asked if the entire process of removing Imran was motivated by the former premier’s “want to do things his way.” Asif denied this, saying it was the prime minister’s prerogative to choose anybody he wanted from a list of names presented to him by the army.

He pointed out that army commanders were appointed in 2013 and 2016, and that the prime minister at the time made judgments based on merit and respected the army’s suggestions.

General Raheel Sharif was unknown to former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Because he had served as the Rawalpindi core commander, he knew General Qamar Javed Bajwa. However, both occasions the institution’s recommendations were followed. In the same way, the [new] appointment will be made on merit.”

Asif believes that, like the judiciary, the process of appointing an army chief should be “institutionalized.” “There is no talk about [appointing a chief justice].” In 2028, I know who will be the Chief Justice.”

“In my opinion, rather than debating the issue of the army chief’s nomination, the procedure should be entirely merit-based.”This is a huge and vital matter that should never be the topic of political debate,” he said.