Pakistani Supreme Court has rejected a petition requesting to restrict Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif from appointing the next Chief of Army Staff (COAS) strictly on basis of seniority.
Shahid Orakzai had filed a civil petition in the apex court under Article 185 (3) of the constitution against Islamabad High Court (IHC) orders dated May 22, 2013 dismissing his writ petition for lacking locus standi, the Daily Times reports.
A three-member bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali, said that the constitution has authorized the prime minister to appoint the COAS according to law and the petitioner could approach the court, if he thinks that the appointment of the COAS was made in violation of the constitution.
Present COAS General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani is due to retire on November 29, while the government is still in a state of indecision on the appointment of his successor.