No Differences Between PM Imran Khan & Army Chief Over Appointment Of New ISI Chief: Pak Minister

Last week, army appointed Lt Gen Nadeem Ahmed Anjum as the new ISI Chief. However, the Prime Minister's office did not issue the order which gave rise to rumours of a rift between the PM and the Army 

(File Photo/ Getty Images)

Pakistan government, on Tuesday, said that there was no difference between Pakistan PM Imran Khan and Army Chief, Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa over the appointment of the new Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief. ISI is the internal spy agency of Pakistan. 

Last week, Lt Gen Nadeem Ahmed Anjum was appointed as the new Director-General of the ISI in place of Lt Gen Faiz Hameed by the army. However, the Prime Minister's office did not issue the order which gave rise to rumours of a rift between the PM and the Army chief. 

As per the laws in Pakistan, the PM is authorised to choose the new ISI chief with consultation with the army chief. Despite the rumours about the rift between the two, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry dismissed any of these reports after meeting with the cabinet on Tuesday. 

“The legal procedure will be followed in the appointment of the new DG ISI, for which both (Gen Bajwa and Prime Minister Khan) are in agreement,” Chaudhary said in a press conference as quoted by PTI.

Chaudhry also said that the premier and the military leader had a “long sitting” to discuss the matter and thus the Cabinet also has been taken into confidence. “Both (PM Khan and Gen Bajwa) are in agreement over this and the prime minister has the authority over it,” he said.

Fawad Chaudhary rejected the rumours regarding differences. 

“I see on social media, there are many who have wishes; I want to tell them that the Prime Minister’s Office will never undermine the respect of the Pakistan Army and army chief. And the COAS and the army will never take any step that will undermine the respect of Pakistan’s prime minister or civil setup,” he said.

The post of ISI chief is considered very important in Pakistan as in their history of 73 years, the ISI has dominated their overseas policies with countries like India, USA, etc. Even though PM has the final authority to make a decision, but looking at Pakistan's history, it is safe to say that the Army chief wants the ISI chief to be a person close to him.