Supreme Court Judge Order


On November 17 (ANI), in Lahore (Pakistan):A petition requesting the appointment of the next army chief on a "seniority basis" was denied by the Lahore High Court.

It is pertinent to mention that Pakistan's military will have a new Army chief later this month and that the current Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa, will retire on November 29.

Advocate Najma Ahmed requested that the court direct the respondents to appoint the most senior individual as the next army chief in her petition.

The front-runners to succeed Bajwa are Lieutenant-Generals Azhar Abbas, chief of the army's general staff, Sahir Shamshad, commander of the Rawalpindi Corps, Asim Munir, the army's quartermaster general and former spy chief, and Nauman Mahmood, chief of the National Defence University.

The petitioner claimed that the traditional procedure for appointing the new army chief is illegal and unconstitutional, citing Article 243 (4b) of the Constitution, which specifies the procedure for the appointment of the Chief of Army Staff.

According to the petitioner, the prime minister has the discretionary authority to appoint one of the five military officials as the army chief in accordance with business regulations.

He asserted that the federal government must appoint the new army chief in accordance with the law.The petitioner pleaded with the court to direct the most senior officer to be appointed army chief.

The petitioner stated that senior lawyer Aitzaz Ahsan has also expressed reservations regarding the traditional method of appointing the army chief.

However, the court made the observation that a full court should hear the case and suggested that the petitioner approach the Supreme Court.

It should be noted that the military's most senior officer will be appointed as the next army chief after crucial meetings in London between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif.

Prior to this, Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif stated at a press conference last month that all three-star generals and any five army personnel recommended by the Defense Ministry could be appointed as the new Army Chief.

In the country's politics, the selection of the next army chief has emerged as a significant issue.

Pakistan's former prime minister Imran Khan stated earlier during his lengthy march rally.Additionally, he asserted that Shabaz had broken the Official Secrets Act by consulting his elder brother Nawaz Sharif when selecting the next army chief.

In reference to Shehbaz's most recent visit to London, he was quoted as saying by The News International, "How can the PM consult a fugitive [Nawaz] on a chief of army staff's appointment?"It is difficult to envision that a sentenced and criminal individual will presently take significant choices in Pakistan," he said adding that the courtroom would be moved against infringement of the Mystery Act.

In response to Senator Azam Swati's arrest, former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan slammed Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa for allowing corruption in the country to flourish.

According to Islam Khabar, Pakistan Army chief Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa has clarified on multiple occasions that he has distanced the military from the country's politics. PTI chief Imran Khan and his party have repeatedly openly criticized the military leadership in the country since they were removed from power in April. This has left no room for negotiations with the security establishment.

Khan continues to be Pakistan's most popular political leader despite his controversial removal in April of this year.In addition, PTI has prevailed in recent by-elections across the nation, particularly in Punjab province.

Azam Khan Swati's arrest, on the other hand, is a major issue for Khan, who takes a scathing swipe at the Pakistan Army.Shahbaz Gill, a senior leader of the PTI and a close aide to Imran Khan, was arrested in August of this year on charges of sedition and other offenses for remarks he made on a television show.

Specifically, Khan and the security establishment's direct clashes will result in more,
as the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) keeps on participating in a confrontation with all quarters of the nation's foundation, party boss Imran Khan prior said that it doesn't make any difference to him who turns into the following armed force head of the country after the retirement of General Qamar Javed Bajwa not long from now, on the off chance that the choice is taken on merit. (ANI)

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