Politics of PTI, PDM revolve around Army Chief appointment: Sirajul Haq

ISLAMABAD, Nov 16 (NNI): Jamaat-i-Islami emir Sirajul Haq has said the politics of the PTI and the PDM revolves around the appointment of army chief.
In a statement issued from here on Wednesday, he added the appointment of army chief should be made on the pattern of chief justice of Pakistan, calling for legislation on it to avoid controversies.
The political interference and prime minister prerogative to choose the head of the institution created controversies in the past, he said.
The JI chief said the ruling parties wanted to keep the status quo intact and they always opposed the ideas to strengthen institutions. Rather, he said, the ruling parties sought control over every institution from army to election commission and the courts.
He reiterated the call for dialogue among political parties on three-point agenda of civilian supremacy, electoral reforms and establishment neutrality. Since the establishment has made a promise to the nation that it will not make any interference into politics, it was responsibility of the political parties to develop a mechanism or fresh legislation if needed to develop the mechanism in light of the institution’s vow.
He said fresh elections were only way forward to pull the country out of prevailing crises. But, he believed the elections without reforms will be futile exercise as many political parties would not accept the outcome, adding to the crises. He said the election commission should be financially and administratively empowered, free from influence of political parties and establishment.