Dispute flares up in Pakistan over appointment of new Army Chief -

Islamabad: Pakistan’s senior military officers went to Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif with the name of the new Army Chief, along with the list of promotions of other military officers. However, PM Sharif refused to sign the proposal, saying he did not accept the appointments. After this, the angry army officer hit the Pakistan PM therein. The journalists of this country claim that the Prime Minister of Pakistan had to hide his face for a few days as the marks of this hit were distinctly visible. Moreover, Imran Khan’s party activists, who oppose the government, have been cheering this. Pointing out that similar was the case with Imran Khan when he was Prime Minister earlier; Pakistan’s journalists reminded that even if those who had been slapped have changed, hands have not changed.

Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa will retire on November 29. But no decision has been taken on who will be the new Army Chief of Pakistan. Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and his brother and former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif want to install their favourite officers in the post of Army Chief. However, the list of the Pakistan Army and the country’s notorious intelligence agency ISI differs from this. These differences have reached an extreme, and the news of the hitting of Prime Minister Sharif by a Pakistani army officer who was angry with him has been piping in Pakistan. Although this news has not been confirmed, journalists in this country have started strongly criticising the army. This includes journalists who strongly oppose the current government. Imran Khan’s party workers, who cheered as the Prime Minister of Pakistan was slapped, were very well reprimanded by these journalists.

Imran Khan resigned as Prime Minister due to a disagreement with Army Chief General Bajwa over who should be appointed as the Chief of ISI. These journalists reminded that he, too, had to be beaten by military officers like the present Prime Minister. Therefore, these journalists have warned Imran Khan and his supporters to try and control the army, where all the rights of Pakistan have been illegally concentrated, and not be delighted as other leaders were getting beaten up today.

The Army Chief of Pakistan had overthrown Imran Khan’s government and formed a coalition government by bringing together the then-opposition leaders. After this, Imran Khan made serious accusations against the Pakistan Army. Besides, he had accused the army of being behind the firing on him. Also, Imran Khan has announced to restart of his long march, which was stopped after this attack. Moreover, he announced that he would make an announcement that would shock everyone on November 26.

As a result, Imran Khan seems to have prepared to take advantage of the differences between the government and the army officers over the appointment of the new Army Chief. But Pakistan will have to bear dire consequences, as this has created the possibility of anarchy in the country. The chances of Pakistan becoming bankrupt have been strong. In such a situation, analysts warn that this anarchy would collapse Pakistan’s system. But there has been no possibility of the withdrawal of Imran Khan and his supporters, claiming that Pakistan’s problems will only get solved if their government comes into power.