'Rawalpindi' And 'Islamabad' At Odds Over COAS Appointment: Raza Rumi

'Rawalpindi' And 'Islamabad' At Odds Over COAS Appointment: Raza Rumi
The Friday Times (TFT) -- Naya Daur editor Raza Rumi said on Tuesday that "Islamabad" and "Rawalpindi" were definitely at odds over the appointment of the next chief of army staff (COAS).

He made the comments in flagship Naya Daur TV show Khabar Say Aagay. Rumi said whether someone denied this was something different altogether. Analyst Muzamal Suharwardy, on the other hand, posited otherwise. He said the governing coalition could not afford this.

Suharwardy said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was not into such politics. Shehbaz, he said, used to wax lyrical about reconciliation while held at Lahore's Kot Lakhpat Jail. The analyst said Shehbaz had furthered this very policy when he ensured Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) vice-president Maryam Nawaz Sharif's twitter account was largely rendered inactive. Senior brother Nawaz's fiery speeches too, Suharwardy said, Shehbaz had toned down.

He had the entire party follow this line. Will now the prime minister, the analyst said, dare defy "Rawalpindi" on this issue. The analyst said "Rawalpindi" will have the final word on the appointment of the next COAS. There were no two ways about this, Suharwardy said.

Journalist Ijaz Ahmad added that a middle ground will be found in resolving this issue. The speculation on this issue should be avoided. More importantly, the image of Pakistan abroad will be harmed by the current crisis given the regional security scenario.

Flagship Naya Daur TV show Khabar Say Aagay streams Monday to Saturday at 9pm.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52qVoNWUR4w&t=4s