Possible elections before the new army chief

Associated Press Service

ISLAMABAD: May 11, 2022- Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has said that the possibility of general elections in the country cannot be ruled out even before the appointment of new Chief of Army Staff of Pakistan this year.

In an exclusive interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation, he said that before the appointment of the army chief, we should hold elections.

Asked whether the tenure of Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa could be extended before the caretaker government, the Defense Minister said that General Bajwa himself had announced that he did not want to extend his tenure.

Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said, “I welcome this announcement as it has closed the door to speculation.”

Khawaja Asif also said that the procedure for appointment of army chief in the country should now be institutionalized as is done in the judiciary.

The Federal Minister of Defense also spoke during the interview on the impression that the appointment of a new Army Chief was the main issue that led to the change of government of Imran Khan. He criticized the former Prime Minister and said that the next Army Chief Imran Khan wanted to do his own thing on the issue of deployment

He wanted to ensure that his political interests and the continuity of his rule were protected