Premier finalised successor of General Sharif, reveals Kamran Khan
A formal announcement likely to come within two to three weeks: anchorperson
LAHORE (Dunya News) – Kamran Khan, renowned investigative journalist and President of Dunya media group revealed on Thursday that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has locked down the name of a high ranked army officer to succeed Chief of the Army Staff, General Raheel Sharif as his tenure is nearing expiration.
The outgoing Chief of the Army Staff has around 50 days left as the top military officer of the country before his three-year term expires, Kamran Khan said.
In his programme, “Dunya Kamran Khan Kay Sath,” he revealed through sources that out of the names that were under consideration for the post, the premier has locked down one.
A formal announcement was likely to be made by the government within two to three weeks, the anchorperson said.
While expanding on the matter, Kamran Khan said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif convened at least 37 one-on-one meetings with the outgoing Chief of the Army Staff during the past three years and only six sessions of National Security Committee were summoned.
The celebrated journalist concluded with the given figures that the premier preferred deliberating over different issues with General Raheel Sharif separately.
It should be mentioned here that Kamran Khan welcomed the fact that General Sharif was getting relieved from his post after a normal three-year long tenure unlike the situation that Pakistan had been seeing in the past.
The outgoing COAS
Different commentators, analysts and international organisations declared General Raheel Sharif as the most loved Chief of the Army Staff by the nation during his tenure.
It goes to his credit that Pakistan’s largest military offensive against terrorism called Operation Zarb-e-Azb was started in General Sharif’s tenure. The operation has witnessed killing of over 3,500 terrorists in tribal areas of the country while hundreds of militant hideouts have been pounded.
Zarb-e-Azb, by now, has stepped in its final phase towards completion after it was launched in June 2014.
General Sharif was seen actively paying visits to hospitalized victims of terror attacks in different cities that came as retaliation to Operation Zarb-e-Azb.
The Chief of the Army Staff visited the wounded at Mardan Medical Complex last month after a suicide bomber killed 14 persons at district court. Before that he had paid a visit to Civil Hospital in Quetta in August when community of lawyers was targeted killing over 70 of them.
The reports
Kamran Khan mentioned a couple of news reports that have surfaced in the past two days claiming that the meeting of National Security Committee, convened earlier this week and attended by the premier and General Raheel Sharif witnessed a solid stance over targeting terrorists.
The anchorperson qouted the reports when he said that the civil and military leadership have agreed to establish a committee headed by Director General of Inter-Services Intelligence, Rizwan Akhtar and National Security Advisor, Lt General (r) Nasir Janjua that would aid elimination of terrorism.
WATCH VIDEO BELOW:
