The final authority to appoint new Director General (DG) Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) rests with prime minister says Fawad Chaudhry, Minister for Information and Broadcast in the latest press conference on Tuesday.
Speculations were rife on social media last night about the meeting between Prime Minister Imran Khan and COAS General Qamar Javed Bajwa on the issue of the appointment of DG ISI. Fawad Chaudhry confirmed the meeting between them in the press conference today. He added that Prime Minister Imran Khan and COAS General Bajwa shares strong friendly and amicable relations.
سول اورملٹری قیادت کے درمیان آئیڈیل تعلقات ہیں۔گزشتہ رات وزیراعظم اور آرمی چیف کےدرمیان طویل ملاقات ہوئی ڈی جی آئی ایس آئی کی تقرری کےحوالےسےقانونی طریقہ کاراپنایاجائےگا۔
کوئی ایسا اقدام نہیں ہو گا جس سےاداروں کے وقارپرحرف آئے۔ وزیراطلاعات @fawadchaudhry pic.twitter.com/DCxanhlFsB— PTI (@PTIofficial) October 12, 2021
https://twitter.com/AnsHafeez/status/1447897677870555141?s=20
Read more: New DG ISI appointed as Lt. Gen Faiz Hameed becomes Corps Commander
However, the final authority to appoint DG ISI lies with Prime Minister Imran Khan and that the set procedure will be followed for the appointment. “The legal procedure will be followed in the appointment of the new DG ISI, for which both [Gen Bajwa and Prime Minister Imran] are in agreement,” he said.
Fawad Chaudhry said that the premier and army chief had a long meeting last night and then the premier took the cabinet in confidence over the issue.
“Gen Bajwa and the prime minister have close and cordial relations. And it is also important from a historical perspective that there are ideal relations between Pakistan’s civilian and military leaderships,” he added.
Fawad Chaudhry also addressed the rumors-mongers and speculators who were peddling the news of serious discord between the civil-military relationship on the appointment of DG ISI.
“I see on social media, there are many who have wished; I want to tell them that the Prime Minister’s Office will never undermine the respect of the Pakistan Army and army chief. And the COAS and the army will never take any step that will undermine the respect of Pakistan’s prime minister or civil setup.”
اسلام آباد اور پنڈی کی راہداریوں میں دلچسپ صورتحال ہے، باوثوق صحافیوں کے مطابق ٹینشن برقرار ہے۔
— Absa Komal (@AbsaKomal) October 12, 2021
One implication of this entire controversy about ISI chief appointment is that it has exposed @ImranKhanPTI's bias in favour of FH, which would be problematic at the time of next succession in the Army when he (FH) would be one of the contenders.
— Baqir Sajjad (@baqirsajjad) October 12, 2021
آئی ایس آئی سربراہ تعیناتی اختیار وزیر اعظم کا ہے مگر serving لیفٹیننٹ جنرل کا انتخاب COAS مشورے کے بغیر نہیں ہوسکتا یقیننا DG ISI وزیر اعظم کو رپورٹ کرتا ہے ہدایت لیتا ہے مگر وہ COAS کا بھی تابع ہوتا ہے آرمی ڈسپلن کاپابند ہے یک شخصی پسندISI سربراہ خطرے کی گھنٹی ہوگا خدانخواستہ
— Kamran Khan (@AajKamranKhan) October 12, 2021
We spend a great deal of time talking about civilian supremacy, but I feel that we should actually be talking about democratic supremacy. Civilian supremacy, if it leads to a civilian dictatorship isn't necessarily a good thing, if it violates democratic norms and conducts
— Zarrar Khuhro (@ZarrarKhuhro) October 12, 2021
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Social media brimmed with news of alleged tussle between civil and military leadership. The issue surfaced following the delay in the issuance of the notification of the appointment of new DG ISI Lt. Gen Nadeem Ahmad Anjum by Prime Minister House.
Speculators and a section of media are still claiming that the issue has not been clearly resolved between the military and civilian leadership. The tensions still exist and the next few days are critical related to the matter. Whereas, commentators and analysts have flooded the internet with observations and the implications of the ongoing crisis on the future politics in the country.