Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Wednesday said that “barring one or two exceptions”, all prior appointments in the military forces were on merit. Addressing a press conference in Islamabad with Finance Minister Miftah Ismail, he said the recommendations for the heads of the three military divisions — army, navy and airforce — were sent to the prime minister who made the decision after consultation with others. On PTI chief Imran Khan’s comments at his Faisalabad rally on Sunday, regarding the appointment of the upcoming army chief which generated controversy, Asif said the former prime minister had given a “new meaning” to his comments in Tuesday’s Peshawar rally.“This is done as part of a well-considered strategy that first you attack and make institutions controversial and see the reaction and then say ‘I talked about merit’.” In Faisalabad, Imran had said PPP leader Asif Ali Zardari and PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif were making all-out efforts to bring their “favourite” army chief after the retirement of the incumbent chief in November this year. The new army chief should be chosen on merit, he had said, adding that Zardari and Nawaz were “traitors” and should not be trusted with the fate of the country. Subsequently, in a bid to clarify his remarks about the appointment of the army chief, Imran claimed a day ago that his rivals were “distorting” his statements to pit him against the military and the judiciary. “My criticism of the Pakistan Army is constructive in nature,” the former prime minister told the charged crowd in Peshawar. “What did I say wrong,” Imran Khan had asked. “I only asked for the appointment of the army chief on the basis of merit,” he had said, adding that merit-based appointments were mandatory to strengthen any institution. Asif addressed the PTI chief’s comments and said the situation was such for the PTI that even Imran’s confidantes remained mum, made excuses or avoided the question when they were asked for their opinion on their leader’s comments.“The president also disassociated himself from what Imran Khan said.”
Source:dawnnews.com
Monday, April 20, 2026
