ISLAMABAD, Nov 23:
The Pakistan Army has submitted the names of six of its top generals for the post of Army chief to succeed incumbent General Qamar Javed Bajwa, ending the suspense over the key appointment.
Gen Bajwa, 61, is scheduled to retire on November 29 after a three-year extension. He has ruled out seeking another extension.
The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) issued a brief statement on Wednesday on Twitter that it received the summary from the Ministry of Defence for the appointment of the new Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and the Chairman Joint Chief of Staff Committee (CJCSC).
“The prime minister will take a decision on the appointments as per the laid down procedure,” according to the statement.
The Army also confirmed that it had sent the names of six top lieutenant generals for the appointments.
Although it did not mention the names, but it is believed that the six men include Lt Gen Asim Munir (currently Quarter Master General), Lt Gen Sahir Shamshad Mirza (Commander 10 Corps), Lt Gen Azhar Abbas (Chief of General Staff), Lt Gen Nauman Mehmood (National Defence University President), Lt Gen Faiz Hamid (Commander Bahawalpur Corps), and Lt Gen Mohammad Amir (Com-mander Gujranwala Corps).
Two of them would be picked by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for promotion and appointment for the posts of COAS and CJCSC before November 29.
Sharif will send the summary to President Arif Alvi who will notify the appointments.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said on Monday that the process of appointment of the next army chief will be completed by November 25.
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