Opposition asks Sharif govt. to uphold seniority rule in next army chief appointment

Islamabad [Pakistan], Oct. 20 (ANI): The Leader of Opposition, Khursheed Shah, has said the Pakistan Government should follow the seniority rule while appointing the new army chief. Shah said the government should appoint the senior-most general as the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (JCSC) and second most senior as the new army chief, reports the Express Tribune. "We wonder why the government is reluctant to follow the seniority (rule)," he said. He also criticised Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and PTI chief Imran Khan as being a threat to democracy of the country. Further in his remarks to the media, he wondered how sensitive information regarding an important meeting was leaked out to the media. "How can you expect things to improve when (the country's) army is maligned in this manner?" he remarked. He said civilian leadership and the military command should be on the same page on important matters. "I will never want the dissolution of government. Certainly, this is one of the weakest governments. They have not yet appointed a foreign minister. We are ready to support any move if the government made foreign policy (decisions) through parliament," he said. He warned that if the government did not resolve the issue of Panama Leaks by the end of December, his party would also be left with no other option but to stage a protest march. (ANI)