Pakistan’s new Army chief ought to have flawless popularity: Maryam Nawaz

Pakistan’s new Army chief must be an individual of “flawless” popularity, ruling coalition chief Maryam Nawaz mentioned on Thursday on Defence Minister Khawaja Asif’s remarks that former ISI chief Lt Gen Faiz Hameed’s title may very well be thought-about for the highest publish.

PML-N Vice-president Maryam has been important of General Hameed on account of his alleged position because the ISI chief in supporting former prime minister Imran Khan and his Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), although the Army all the time rejected such allegations.

“The nation looks at the Army for the unity and security of Pakistan. So it is important that the Army chief is a person who is worthy and flawless so that people salute the Pakistan Army,” Maryam, the daughter of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, mentioned at a press convention when requested in regards to the defence minister’s remarks.

Incumbent Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa will retire by the top of November this yr.

General Faiz Hameed served because the ISI chief from June 16, 2019, to October 19, 2021, and is at present posted because the Peshawar Corps Commander.

Her feedback adopted after she advised a public rally within the Fateh Jang space of Punjab province final week that Imran Khan used the previous spy chief to “throttle” his opponents.

“We know that he (Hameed) wasn’t your eyes and ears, rather he was your (Khan’s) hands through which you throttled your political opponents,” she mentioned.

Earlier, Khan in a current podcast look mentioned the intelligence chief was the “eyes and ears” of the federal government and his distinction with the Army started when he needed Hameed to proceed because the ISI chief whereas he was posted as Corps Commander Peshawar final yr.

Defence Minister Asif in his interview with the BBC Urdu this week had mentioned that “If his (Hameed) name is on the seniority list, it will definitely be considered (for Army chief).” Separately, former president Asif Ali Zardari in his press speak on Wednesday additionally handed important remarks about General Hameed by saying that “he (Hameed) has been sidelined” when posted out of the spy company.

Later Zardari mentioned that his sidelines remarks had been being quoted out of context. But the Army in a press release on Thursday mentioned the Peshawar Corps was a outstanding formation and its management was “in highly professional hands”.

It mentioned that remarks towards the Corps Commander Peshawar Lt Gen Hameed by a “senior politician” had been “extremely unfit”. “Such statements negatively impact the morale and honour of the army and its leadership,” the Army mentioned.