ISLAMABAD: Sharif brothers have decided in a meeting in London that the prime minister will appoint new army chief at any cost.
Sharif family held a second round of meeting in London on Thursday in which they decided not to bow to any pressure and support PM Shehbaz Sharif in exercising his privilege of appointing the new army chief.
Sharifs conveyed this message through their party leaders a few hours after ISPR announced that army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa has started his farewell meetings and visited different Corps on Thursday.
Sharifs message is a loud and clear message for those, including Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan who were suggesting that PM Shehbaz Sharif should not appoint new army chief.
On Wednesday, however, PTI chairman changed his stance and said that “they can appoint whoever they want” while talking to a selected group of journalists in Lahore.
According to PML-N insiders, PM Shehbaz rushed to London from Egypt to discuss some options he was conveyed by the power circles in the context of the fast-changing political scenario.
Both the brothers, nevertheless, decided not to give in to Mr Khan’s demand for snap elections.
“PM Shehbaz told Nawaz that almost all Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) parties are on the same page over the premier’s powers to appoint the army chief and complete the incumbent government’s tenure till August 2023. They (PML-N and allied parties) are even ready to sacrifice their government, but will not budge from their stance,” Dawn.com reported today quoting sources.
Nawaz’s children — Maryam, Hassan and Hussain — were also present in the meetings. Meanwhile, Khawaj Asif, Defence Ministe also confirmed that both the Sharif brothers discussed the appointment of the army chief.
A day earlier, Sharifs announced that they will not accept pressure for early elections and their government will complete its tenure.
