ISLAMABAD: The discussion between Prime Minister Imran Khan and Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa on the new Director-General of ISI has been completed.
Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry said on Tuesday that legal course will be followed for the appointment of the new Director-General (DG) Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), and Only Prime Minister Imran Khan has the authority to do that.
“There is complete agreement between PM Imran Khan and COAS Qamar Javed Bajwa on the appointment of DG ISI,” Fawad said, while addressing a press conference in Islamabad after the cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan.
In a message on Twitter, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry said that the consultation process between the prime minister and the army chief on the appointment of a new DG, ISI, has been completed and the process of appointment has started.
وزیر اعظم اور آرمی چیف کے درمیان نئے DG ISI کی تقرری پر مشاورت کا عمل مکمل ہو چکا ہے اور نئ تقرری کا پراسس شروع ہو چکا ہے، ایک بار پھر سول اور فوجی قیادت نے یہ ثابت کیا ہے کہ ملک کے استحکام، سالمیت اور ترقی کیلئے تمام ادارے متحد اور یکساں ہیں
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) October 13, 2021
He said that all legal and constitutional prerequisites would be fulfilled in the appointment of DG ISI, though he avoided elaborating the ‘legal and constitutional’ method for an appointment. Fawad said, “A long meeting took place between PM Imran Khan and the army chief last night,” adding that the government shares an ideal relationship with the military.
Fawad also appreciated the media for not sensationalising the issue of the DG ISI’s appointment.
Talking about the issue of overseas Pakistanis’ voting rights, he said that there has not been a single cabinet meeting where the matter was not discussed.
“No cabinet meeting goes without the mention of overseas Pakistanis’ right to vote,” he said.
Speaking about the funeral of Dr Abdul Qadeer which took place on Sunday, Fawad said at least 15 ministers attended the funeral prayer.
The information minister also informed reporters the cabinet has decided to provide an online visa facility to foreign nationals working on different China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects across the country.
Commenting on the country’s economic affairs, he said that Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin is visiting the United States to hold talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
“Tarin is in the United States right now to speak to the IMF, and he will continue to perform his duties in line with the law and the Constitution of Pakistan,” he said.