Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif is set to appoint a new army chief amid ongoing political unrest, officials said on Wednesday, after the army sent a list of candidate army generals to the key position.
The latest decision ended days of speculation over a standoff between Sharif’s coalition government and the military over the replacement of General Qamar Javed Bajwa, who is retiring early next week. Former Prime Minister Imran Khan had extended his term amid tensions with neighbouring India.
Sharif, who came to power in April by ousting Khan in a vote of no confidence in parliament, is consulting with his allies. Khan had accused Bajwa of conspiring to oust him as part of a US plot, a charge denied by Washington and the military.
In a tweet, Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif confirmed Wednesday that the government had received a summary of the candidates. The military also took to Twitter, saying it had sent the names of six senior generals for review.
Khan, who started his protest march from the eastern city of Lahore on Oct. 28, wants Sharif to resign immediately. The former cricket hero survived an assassination attempt this month. A gunman opened fire on his container truck and wounded him in the leg, killing a rallygoer and 13 others.
Since then, Khan’s protest march has moved toward Islamabad in convoys without him. Khan is expected to again lead the parade in Islamabad on Nov. 26, according to his Tehreek-e-Insaf party.
The ongoing deadlock between the government of Sharif and Khan’s party has deepened the political turmoil at a time when Pakistan is struggling to deal with the aftermath of last summer’s devastating floods ahead of cold winter weather. Thousands are still living in makeshift homes following the record-shattering floods that killed 1,739 people and affected 33 million.
Khan has also claimed that his removal from power was unlawful and a conspiracy by Bajwa and his political opponents orchestrated by the United States, a charge denied by both Washington and Sharif.
So far, neither the military nor the government has disclosed the names of the generals on the panel. However, the six senior-most generals are Lt. Gen. Asim Munir, Lt. Gen. Sahir Shamshad Mirza, Lt. Gen. Azhar Abbas, Lt. Gen. Nauman Mehmood, Lt. Gen. Faiz Hamid and Lt. Gen. Mohammad Amir.
Sharif’s office took to Twitter on Wednesday, saying, “The PM Office has received the summary from the Ministry of Defence with a panel of names for the appointment of Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee and Chief of the Army Staff.”
Bajwa is retiring when Khan asks Sharif to announce snap elections, a demand that the coalition government has rejected, saying the next parliamentary vote will take place in 2023 as scheduled. Bajwa became army chief in 2016 and Khan extended his service for three years.
It is widely believed that Gen. Asim Munir, a former spymaster, could be appointed as Bajwa’s successor if the senior most general is elevated. Sharif has the authority to pick any general from the panel of generals recommended to him by the military, which has ruled Pakistan for half of its 75-year history