In a surprising twist, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan has claimed that he has 'no objections' with whoever the ruling coalition chooses as the new Chief of Army Staff.
The former prime minister made this remark during a conversation with journalists at his Zaman Park residence in Lahore on Tuesday.
Responding to a question about whether he had demanded that the appointment of the new COAS be made in consultation with him and the PTI, he denied that he had asked for a collaborative process on the selection of the army chief.
"No, they can appoint whoever they want," said the former prime minister in response to a journalists' question.
The development comes as a surprise after Khan spent months objecting to the selection of the new COAS by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chair Asif Ali Zardari.
Previously in September, Khan had alleged that the coalition government was scared of holding fresh elections due to the appointment of the next chief of army staff. “Zardari and Nawaz want to bring their favourite as the next an army chief because they have stolen public money,” he had said, adding, “They are afraid that when a patriotic army chief comes, he will ask them about their loot.”
During the same conversation, Khan was asked whether current COAS General Qamar Javed Bajwa was being given an extension, he cryptically said, "That is a billion dollar question."
He said that his only issue with the army was on the topic of 'accountability', claiming that the country's premier needed to be given more powers. "I believe if the country is to run smoothly, then the prime minister should also be given power along with the management," he said.
The former prime minister made this remark during a conversation with journalists at his Zaman Park residence in Lahore on Tuesday.
Responding to a question about whether he had demanded that the appointment of the new COAS be made in consultation with him and the PTI, he denied that he had asked for a collaborative process on the selection of the army chief.
"No, they can appoint whoever they want," said the former prime minister in response to a journalists' question.
The development comes as a surprise after Khan spent months objecting to the selection of the new COAS by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chair Asif Ali Zardari.
Previously in September, Khan had alleged that the coalition government was scared of holding fresh elections due to the appointment of the next chief of army staff. “Zardari and Nawaz want to bring their favourite as the next an army chief because they have stolen public money,” he had said, adding, “They are afraid that when a patriotic army chief comes, he will ask them about their loot.”
During the same conversation, Khan was asked whether current COAS General Qamar Javed Bajwa was being given an extension, he cryptically said, "That is a billion dollar question."
He said that his only issue with the army was on the topic of 'accountability', claiming that the country's premier needed to be given more powers. "I believe if the country is to run smoothly, then the prime minister should also be given power along with the management," he said.