ISLAMABAD: The Prime Minister’s Office Monday received the summary relating to the appointment of the next chief of army staff, sources informed Geo News.
The process to appoint the next head of the military has formally started as Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa is all set to retire on November 29 — and has also kick-started his farewell visits.
A meeting is also underway to discuss the names of the next army chief and the chairman joint chiefs of staff committee, sources said, with high-ranking officials in attendance.
PM Shehbaz is chairing the meeting with Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah, and Law Minister Sardar Ayaz Sadiq also present, the sources said.
Sources have added that the list includes five names of the senior-most military officials — Lt Gen Asim Munir, Lt Gen Sahir Shamshad Mirza, Lt Gen Azhar Abbas, Lt Gen Nauman Mehmood, Lt Gen Faiz Hamid.
Once the PM’s Office approves the names for both coveted slots, the list will be forwarded to the President’s Secretariat for ratification. Following that, it will be sent back to the PM’s Office for an official announcement.
More to follow…