No decision has been reached so far on COAS appointment: Khawaja Asif

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has revealed that no decision has been reached by the federal government yet about the appointment of a new Chief of Army Staff (COAS).

According to the defence minister, the selection process for the new army chief will likely begin within the next five to seven days.

Talking in Geo News’ programme “Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath”, the minister said five names will be forwarded and then Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif will pick one of those names. He was of the view that the appointment is quite a simple method as this exercise has been conducted several times in the past too.

The appointment for the COAS position is due to take place in November.

About the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) planned long march, the federal minister said that the government will not be blackmailed by the PTI if the party comes to Islamabad.

The minister also said that no negotiations have taken place with PTI. “A couple of meetings took place because of Imran’s old acquaintances”, he added.

On the contrary, Khan has claimed that negotiations were indeed held. He also warned the government to give a date for early general elections or else he will announce a date for the long march within the current month.

عمران خان کے اسٹبلشمنٹ سےکوئی مذاکرات نہیں ہورہےبلکہ اپنےساتھیوں کوآسرا دینےکیلئے مذاکرات کی بات کی ہے۔انکی ایک دو ملاقاتیں پرانی شناسائی کی وجہ سے ہوئی ہیں،جس میں تین آدمیPTIکےتھے اورباقی شناساتھے ۔الیکشن وقت پر ہوں گے،ہم بلیک میل نہیں ہوں گے۔ خواجہ آصف

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— Shahzeb Khanzada (@shazbkhanzdaGEO) October 18, 2022

Discussing the recent by-elections held on the past Sunday, Asif said that if Khan had let his party candidates run from their respective constituencies instead of contesting himself, the results would have been different.

During the show, he also hinted towards keeping the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) alliance in place in the next elections.

پی ڈی ایم نے جو دو سیٹیں جیتیں وہ بھی پیپلزپارٹی نے جیتیں۔ کیا ن لیگ کو نظر آرہا ہے کہ اگلا الیکشن اتحادیوں کے ساتھ لڑنا پڑے گا؟ دیکھیے خواجہ آصف کا مؤقف

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— Shahzeb Khanzada (@shazbkhanzdaGEO) October 18, 2022