Irfan Siddiqui dubs President’s suggestion about COAS appointment “absurd”

ISLAMABAD, Sep 25 (SABAH): Senator and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) senior leader Irfan Siddiqui on Sunday said President Dr Arif Alvi’s suggestion to conditionalize appointment of Army Chief with consensus among all political parties was “absurd”.

“Instead of toing Imran Khan’s line, President Arif Alvi should uphold the Constitution as it is he who has taken oath to protect and implement it,” the Senator said in a news statement.

He said the Executive had authority to appoint the Army Chief in all the democratic countries. Neither any controversy arose in the past, nor any opposition demanded its inclusion in the consultation process for the purpose, he added.

In 2019, he said the then opposition supported Imran Khan over extension of the Army Chief and did not raise any question over his executive power.

The Senator said as consultation between the opposition leader and prime minister was a constitutional requirement, deadlock took place sometime during the appointment of caretaker prime ministers, chief ministers, Chairman NAB and others.

He said the appointment of Army Chief should not be made part of the political discourse. The President should not give any unconstitutional opinion over the appointment of army chief as its process was enshrined in the constitution.

The Senator said other than Pervaz Musharraf, there were many who acted beyond their constitutional domains while being into the power. It did not mean that the appointment was compromised for the sake of politics.

He asked as to why the President did not give such suggestion during 2019.