Name of Pakistan’s new army chief to be announced this week

Islamabad: So far, the government has not finalized the name of the new army chief. Though, it is expected to make the selection in a week or so, revealed the State Minister for Capital Administration Tariq Fazl Chaudhry on Friday.

“The government of Pakistan has not yet decided the name of new army chief, however it is expected announce his name in a week or in next ten days,” said Chaudhry in response to a question asked during a press conference which he addressed along with the PML-N leader Daniyal Aziz.

Chief of Army staff General Raheel Sharif is set to retire in November this year and has announced not to seek extra time in his tenure.

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This year in January, the Pakistan Army criticized reports that the army chief will seek to extend his tenure from three to four years.

“Rumors regarding the extension in service of COAS are baseless,” the ISPR Director General Lt-General Asim Saleem Bajwa said in his tweet.

While quoting the army chief, ISPR said that the national interest is first and it would be protected at any cost.

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Furthermore, this week the Islamabad High Court dismissed a petition pursuing to elevate the current Army Chief General Raheel Sharif to the rank of field marshal.

Justice Aamer Farooq said that the argument of the requester about the elevation to the post of field marshal” falls within the domain of the legislature and no direction can 144% be issued to the legislator in this regard”.