Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan informed the federalcabinet that he had told Pakistan Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) Gen. QamarJaved Bajwa that he wanted Lt. Gen. Faiz Hameed to continue as Inter-ServicesIntelligence (ISI) director general for some time due to the critical situationin neighbouring Afghanistan, Dawn reported.
Reports about lack of consensus between the civil andmilitary leadership over the matter had been making rounds on social media forthe last few days, but after it appeared on regular media on Tuesday,Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry was compelled to clarify the government'spoint of view.
Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chief whip in the NationalAssembly Amir Dogar said Prime Minister Khan and Gen Bajwa held a detailedmeeting late Monday night on the matter.
The meeting was also confirmed by Information MinisterFawad Chaudhry during his presser after the cabinet meeting, stating that theissue of appointment of new ISI DG Lt. Gen. Nadeem Ahmed Anjum had beenresolved and that the PM enjoyed the authority to appoint the chief of thecountry's premier spy agency in accordance with law and Constitution.
Also sharing details of the meeting, Pak PM's aide onpolitical affairs Amir Dogar said the premier wanted Lt. Gen. Hameed to stay asDG ISI in view of the situation in Afghanistan, adding that Prime Minister Khanand Gen. Bajwa enjoyed relation of respect and dignity, the report said.
Khan was of the opinion that the government wanted to takeall institutions on board, Dogar said. "The body language of the primeminister was quite positive and he seemed confident," he added.
The PTI's chief whip said the prime minister had told thecabinet that he was an elected prime minister and chief executive of thecountry.
"The prime minister has the authority to appoint theDG ISI and he held a detailed meeting with Chief of the Army Staff Gen. QamarJaved Bajwa in this regard," Chaudhry told the press conference.
"The federal government will follow a legal andconstitutional procedure on the appointment of the Inter-Services Intelligencedirector general," he said.
The minister categorically stated there would be no steptaken from the PM Office or the military setup that damaged the repute of oneanother, the report said.
Referring to rumours circulating about the matter, theminister said: "I see on social media, there are many who have wishes; Iwant to tell them that the Prime Minister's Office will never undermine therespect of the Pakistan Army and army chief. And the COAS and the army willnever take any step that will undermine the respect of Pakistan's primeminister or civil setup."
He stressed that both the prime minister and the militaryleadership were in close coordination, and the DG ISI would be appointed afterfulfilling all legal requirements. "Both (PM Khan and Gen Bajwa) are inagreement over this and the prime minister has the authority over it," headded.