Sharif considers Bajwa’s replacement
LONDON:
It was revealed on Thursday that the political gathering in London had failed to settle on a successor to Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa.
But it was resolved during the meeting that the government will not cave to pressure over the new military leader, especially from PTI Chairman Imran Khan.
While in London, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif, and others discussed the appointment of a new army chief, analyzed recent statements from the military’s media wing, and discussed the government’s strategy for dealing with the PTI’s long march, among other things, with PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif.
On the other hand, the Sharif brothers reaffirmed that they would not grant the PTI head any kind of concession in response to his demand for early elections or a date for the next polls by marching to the garrison and the capital city.
According to those with knowledge of the situation, PML-N and the leadership of the alliance believe Imran has run out of alternatives and is thus desperate enough to publicly admit it.
According to a source, the group has been meeting in London to discuss a number of topics, including the selection of a new army commander, the PTI’s long march, the timing of upcoming elections, the weaknesses of the current administration, and the potential return of the PML-N supremo to Pakistan. According to the insider, “the appointment of the army chief is the most important item on the agenda.”
The defense minister confirmed to the media that he and the prime minister had traveled to London to consult with the elder Sharif, adding that the group had failed to settle on a candidate for the position of army chief during a meeting on Thursday but remained hopeful that the situation would be resolved soon.
Recalling that the briefing for the next military leader was postponed until after November 18, Asif said that there was still a week left and that he hoped everything would wrap up quickly and easily.
According to PML-N sources, the government has made it clear that it seeks stable ties with the establishment and that it intends to accomplish this goal by appointing a military leader who would not pressure the government to hold early elections.
Snap elections or announcing an early election date would be “political suicide,” the person added.
While it may come as a surprise, the source claims that the current economic situation and the devastation caused by floods mean that neither the government nor the establishment can afford elections at this time.
The source said, “Things would not settle until the appointment of the new army chief,” adding that the prime minister’s sudden trip to the UK was consistent with the developing situation, particularly after the army chief began farewell meetings.
According to PML-N insiders, the current administration is looking for a military chief who will help keep relations amicable with the establishment, maintain the positive momentum between the two sides, and not resort to forcing early elections on the government. This is because, according to the sources, the ruling alliance would rather see the government fall in any way possible than make any concessions on its political agenda.
After the spy chief’s press conference and Imran’s accusations against a military officer in connection with the gun attack at a PTI rally in Wazirabad, he said Sharif and the top leadership of its allies are aware that the fundamental relationship between the PTI chief and the establishment was not going to change anytime soon.
According to PML-N insiders, Imran’s allegations against the prime minister, interior minister, and military officer were “nothing more than a political stunt” discussed at the party’s London meeting.
No amount of protest, however long or short, will sway the government, according to the source, because they have “burned their political capital” and cannot afford elections at the present time.
