Journalist Murtaza Solangi said on Monday that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan’s statement pertaining an extension in the tenure of Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa was unconstitutional.
The PTI chief had proposed so in an interview to a private channel televised later the same day.
Solangi made the remarks while appearing in Naya Daur TV flagship show Khabar Say Aagay. He said Imran’s supporters had been introducing vicious social media trends targeting Bajwa since April. He said the former premier’s statement was representative of his own demons.
Columnist Muzamal Suharwardy said Imran had understood that general elections cannot be held before November, adding that the PTI chief is, therefore, demanding a short extension in Bajwa’s tenure till April to appoint a new army chief of his choice.
Muzamal added Imran had realized that he needed more time to oust the government. Therefore, he did not want the new army chief to be appointed by the ruling coalition. His statement could also be seen as a desire to reconcile with the establishment, the columnist said. Muzamal said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has dismissed talks of an early election in a meeting saying the exercise will be undertaken in October-November next year.
Naya Daur founder Raza Rumi said a clear procedure regulating the appointment of the army chief was needed to conclude this debate once and for all.
Naya Daur TV flagship show Khabar Say Aagay streams live Monday to Friday at 9pm.
It’s better to appoint now as everyone including himself will have a say. If it happens after a partisan election according to his own silly logic a unilaterally appointed pro admin COAS could give rise to a fascist regime and repression against the opposition. He should crawl back into the Parliament and be the leader of opposition in national interest to be involved in the process rather then create a divide in military high command and weaken it.