The Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (PILDAT) has issued a report detailing its assessment of the recently-concluded general election, expressing deep concerns over a decline in fairness scores compared to previous election cycles.
The summary for the discharge of incumbent army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa is yet to be issued by the Ministry of Defense (MoD) under Rule 12 of the Pakistan Army Act 1954.
Minister for Defense Khawaja Asif on Tuesday said that consultations on the army chief's appointment will begin after November 18 or 19 and clarified that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) had no 'favorite' for the position.
Speaking to journalists outside the parliament house, Mr Asif Ali Zardari had brushed aside the speculations about a deadlock between, PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and former president PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari over the name of the next army chief.
He had said there was no question of a deadlock over the matter when the consultation has not even started yet.
However, ambiguity looms over the process for reasons beyond the rumoured impasse as the notification of retirement of the COAS remains to be issued.
According to a 2019 Supreme Court judgment concerning the extension of the COAS, the procedure whereby the then government had appointed General Qamar Javed Bajwa as army chief, had involved a multistep process.
First, a summary for the prime minister for the retirement of General Raheel Sharif was moved by the MoD on November 15, 2016.
The premier gave his advice to the president to promote General Bajwa to the rank of General and approved the retirement of General Raheel Sharif on November 28, 2016.
It was only then that the MoD notified the promotion of General Bajwa and appointed him COAS on November 29, 2016.
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