ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif said on Tuesday the process to appoint a new chief for the country’s all-powerful army would begin within the next seven days.

Pakistan’s current army chief, General Qamar Javed Bajwa, will complete his tenure on November 28. He became the army chief in November 2016 and was given a three-year extension in 2019 when now former PM Imran Khan was in power.

Though Bajwa, and the military’s media wing, have said the army chief will not seek a second extension and a new head of the army would be appointed on merit, there has been widespread speculation over whether Bajwa will actually retire and who the new chief will be.

Khan, who was ousted in a no-trust vote in April, has repeatedly alleged that the government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif hoped to appoint an army chief of its choice who would not question it over corruption. Khan says the Sharif government, which came to power after Khan’s ouster through a parliamentary vote, has no right to appoint the head of the most important institution in the country and should announce fresh elections promptly and let a new, elected government appoint him.

“I think within the next five to seven days, the beginning of this exercise’s process [army chief’s appointment] should start,” Asif said during an interview with Geo News. “I say this on the basis of my estimate, based on my experience ... Otherwise, I don’t have any information.”

In response to another question, Asif said the government has yet not finalized a name for the new army chief: “No, we haven’t taken any decision yet, this much I can guarantee you.”

Reacting to widespread reports in local media that President Dr. Arif Alvi had arranged a meeting between Khan and top army officials, including Bajwa, to end the political stalemate in the country, Asif said a few meetings had been arranged by Khan’s aides in past weeks, ruling out ongoing talks.

“I don’t think any negotiations are taking place [between Khan and the military],” Asif said. “Imran Khan insists negotiations are taking place to give hope to his people.”