President Dr Arif Alvi has said that it is not a bad idea to appoint the next chief of army staff (COAS) before the end of incumbent COAS General Qamar Javed Bajwa’s tenure in November.
During an interaction with journalists, the president was asked that what he thinks of the suggestion that the new army chief be appointed in advance due to the ongoing political crisis in the country. "It is not such a bad idea," Alvi replied.
He said that "the neutrals need to remain neutral always".
"The elephant in the room has not appeared now, it has been there for 50 years," the president said, adding that the matter is a ground reality and it can be solved through dialogue.
He said that as the president, he does not have the constitutional authority to ask parties to have a dialogue, adding that a dialogue is possible only when all the stakeholders agree. "The President House can play its role only in this case."
He added that he received 74 summaries since the coalition government came into power and he signed and forwarded 69 of them on the day of receiving them.
“I held back the summaries regarding NAB ordinance, electronic voting machines, and the Punjab governor but I did not have any pressure to do so,” he said.
During an interaction with journalists, the president was asked that what he thinks of the suggestion that the new army chief be appointed in advance due to the ongoing political crisis in the country. "It is not such a bad idea," Alvi replied.
He said that "the neutrals need to remain neutral always".
"The elephant in the room has not appeared now, it has been there for 50 years," the president said, adding that the matter is a ground reality and it can be solved through dialogue.
He said that as the president, he does not have the constitutional authority to ask parties to have a dialogue, adding that a dialogue is possible only when all the stakeholders agree. "The President House can play its role only in this case."
He added that he received 74 summaries since the coalition government came into power and he signed and forwarded 69 of them on the day of receiving them.
“I held back the summaries regarding NAB ordinance, electronic voting machines, and the Punjab governor but I did not have any pressure to do so,” he said.