ISLAMABAD
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said Wednesday all the key stake holders – including the coalition partners and the Federal Cabinet will be taken on board regarding the appointment of new Chief of the Army Staff (COAS).
However, Khawaja Asif was interrupted by a reporter on the matter of deliberations with the Federal Cabinet on the appointment of Army Chief. The reporter told the minister that article 243 of constitution did not mention Federal Cabinet’s role in the appointment.
To this, the minister replied that he “wasn’t aware of many constitutional articles.”
When asked whether the matter would be discussed with the cabinet, Asif said he was “unaware” of this as it was a “technical” matter. He reiterated that the matter would be decided once the formalities were completed.
Talking to reporters in Islamabad, the minister said military’s new head will be appointed before Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif leaves for Ankara, Turkey, due tomorrow (Friday). “The formalities, the procedure laid down in the law will likely take a day,” he was quoted as saying in media reports.
Responding to a question, the Defence Minister said important decisions like the appointment of Army Chief should be taken in the best interest of the country and the nation in light of the Constitution and law without having any political considerations.
