Consultation on next COAS likely to be in November: Khawaja Asif 

London: Denying the discussion regarding the appointment of the next chief of army staff (COAS) during a meeting of Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Nawaz Sharif, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said that the consultation on the appointment of the army chief will begin in November.

Asif was speaking at Nawaz Sharif’s London residence where he arrived accompanying Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

Khwaja Asif said that the appointment of the next COAS was a routine matter and it is the first time in history that Imran Khan is raising a ‘hue and cry’ over the issue.

The defense minister claimed that Imran Khan is the first political leader to seek intervention from the institution.

The date of appointment is over two months away, he said.

“The appointment of the Army Chief will be in accordance with the constitution and the law. The important appointment should not be made a political issue”, Khwaja Asif concluded.

On Saturday, Federal Minister Khurram Dastgir claimed that the prime minister will hold a consultation with Nawaz Sharif over the appointment of the next COAS.