The leadership of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz is not willing to stand down from its stance of not consulting the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf over the appointment of the new Army chief. According to media reports, the Sharif brothers have decided that the government will also complete its tenure set to expire in August 2023.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is currently in London where he has held several meetings with his elder brother Nawaz Sharif over the matters pertaining to national security. It has been learnt that Nawaz has clearly instructed Shehbaz to not pay heed to any action or demand by PTI chief Imran Khan.
The two brothers have also discussed the possibility of giving Major General Qamar Javed Bajwa an extension as he is set to retire in two weeks’ time. Dawn has reported that the prime minister took the list of the names of the potential candidates for the post of Chief of Army Staff along with him and discussed it with Nawaz.
Meanwhile, Khan has toned down on his criticism of the Sharifs and Zardaris appointing the new army chief. He has said that the government was free to appoint anyone it wanted.
