Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s statement that the government is delaying fresh elections to pick a new army chief when the incumbent retires in November, drew a rare reaction from the military that termed it an attempt to defame its senior leadership.
(Bloomberg) — Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s statement that the government is delaying fresh elections to pick a new army chief when the incumbent retires in November, drew a rare reaction from the military that termed it an attempt to defame its senior leadership.
The army has ruled Pakistan for about half its history, making its chief a powerful arbiter of foreign and domestic policy. Under Pakistani law the prime minister will pick the successor of General Qamar Bajwa, who is scheduled to complete his term of extension mid-November.
“Pakistan Army is aghast at the defamatory and uncalled for statement” about its senior leadership by the former premier Khan, the military’s media wing said in a statement. “Regrettably, an attempt has been made to discredit and undermine the senior leadership” of the army.
The army’s statement came a day after Khan alleged at a rally Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his allies “want their man because they have stolen away money,” while referring to the appointment of army chief. “They fear that if a strong, patriotic army chief is appointed, he will question them,” Khan added.
Khan is trying to undermine Pakistan by maligning its institutions, Sharif said in a tweet Monday. The military didn’t respond to a request for comment.
This is the first time any prominent leader has publicly addressed the influential appointment. Khan wants elections to be held as soon as possible much before the government’s term that ends August 2023.
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Khan has accused Sharif’s government and the military of orchestrating his removal from power after he opposed U.S. policies. Khan hasn’t offered proof and the government and military deny the accusations.
The procedure of appointment of army chief is “well defined in the constitution’ and scandalizing the process is unfortunate and disappointing, the military said in the statement.
(Updates with army’s statement in the first and third paragraphs.)
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