A senior leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Fawad Chaudhry has said the general elections are more important than the appointment of the new army chief. Speaking to reporters in Lahore, Chaudhry said Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) are making the process of the next army chief’s appointment “controversial”.
He noted that appointments in institutions should be implemented in a constitutional manner. He blamed the PML-N and PPP for making them controversial. He said it is necessary to “preserve and protect” the country’s institutions.
“We have a clear policy that we do not want bloodshed. Women and children also participate in our protest,” he said, adding that his party wants constitutional change in the country.
Fawad Chaudhry further said that political stability can only be witnessed after ‘free and fair’ elections and not after a new army chief is appointed. Earlier, PTI Chairman Imran Khan told participants of the long march that he does not want to appoint Chief of Army Staff (COAS), reiterating that the army chief should be appointed on merit. The former premier noted that allegations were levelled against him for making the appointment of army chief controversial.
Imran Khan also criticised Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and PML-N leaders for holding a meeting in London to make the important decision about the army chief’s appointment. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif says consultations were held on the appointment of the new aramy chief between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif.—NNI
