ISLAMABAD: India will play an important role in the appointment of the next army chief in Pakistan, said a leading newspaper. With Pak Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif all set to pick a successor to the powerful General Raheel Shareef, he will have to keep the candidate's views on foreign policy issues, under consideration.
The most likely candidates are, chief of general staff Lt Gen Zubair Hayat, Multan Corps commander Lt Gen Ishfaq Nadeem Ahmed, Bahawalpur Corps commander Lt Gen Javed Iqbal Ramday and IG training and evaluation Lt Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa. The succession will take place at the end of November, on the retirement of General Sharif. Meanwhile Tehreek-i-Insaf chairman Imran Khan has accused PM Sharif of offering Gen Sharif an extension because "he is afraid of the army".
Addressing a rally in Islamabad, Khan said, "The prime minister is repeatedly asking the army chief to take an extension and become a field marshal because he fears him, he has all other institutions under his control." Sources reveal the offer was made, but the General refused to accept it.
This time round, the government is yet to officially start considering candidates, but those privy to developments in the corridors of power say consultations within the government started at the beginning of this year. Insiders recall that Gen Raheel's unprecedented announcement from January this year -saying he would retire on time -was also prompted by some of the same behind-the scenes political manoeuvres. This chatter also spilled over onto social media as calls in favour of and against giving the army chief an extension.
