ISLAMABAD: The top leaders of Pakistan’s coalition government held a meeting in the federal capital on Wednesday ahead of the army chief’s appointment in which they expressed their full confidence in Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif while entrusting the decision to him.
According to an official statement released by the information ministry, the meeting was held in the Prime Minister House and had “a one-point agenda regarding the constitutional appointments” in the country.
It added the coalition partners vowed to support the prime minister’s decision in the matter.
“You are the prime minister and the constitution has entrusted you with this authority and privilege,” the statement quoted former president and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari as saying.
The Prime Minister’s Office received a list of six most senior lieutenant generals from the defense ministry earlier in the day, one of whom will be nominated as the next army chief of the country.
The appointment is widely viewed as a sensitive political matter in a country which has witnessed four military coups and where the army continues to be an important power player.
The prime minister expressed his gratitude to all coalition partners at the end of the meeting.
