Pak PM Sharif says he rejected Imran Khan’s proposal on new Army Chief's appointment

General Bajwa, 61, who is on a three-year extension, is set to retire on November 29.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that he has flatly rejected a proposal from his predecessor and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on the appointment of a successor to Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa.

General Bajwa, 61, who is on a three-year extension, is set to retire on November 29.

General Bajwa was initially appointed in 2016, but after three years of tenure, the then government of Khan in 2019 extended his service for another three years. In September, former prime minister Khan had said that Gen Bajwa should be given another extension until the new government is elected, while reiterating calls for early elections.

Talking to vloggers on October 29, 2022, which was his first such meeting, Mr. Shehbaz said Mr. Khan had offered talks with the government a month ago through a mutual businessman friend to resolve two issues, one of which was the appointment of the army chief and the second was holding early elections, the Express Tribune newspaper reported on Sunday.

“Imran had suggested that we give him three names and he gives three names for the post of army chief and then we decide on the appointment of the new chief from those six names,” the Prime Minister said.

“If there is a common name in both the lists, then we will agree,” he said, adding, however: “I flatly refused Imran Khan’s offer by saying 'thank you'.” Mr. Shehbaz said he had sent a message that appointment of the army chief was a constitutional duty that the prime minister would have to perform.

“I have offered Imran Khan to discuss the Charter of Democracy and Charter of Economy,” he said.