PM Shehbaz to take 'final decision' on army chief's posting in November.

ISLAMABAD/GUJRANWALA -- Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader and Federal Minister for Defence Khawaja Muhammad Asif Saturday grilled Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan for issuing statements about the appointment of the new Chief of the Army Staff (COAS).

The minister while addressing a press conference in Islamabad alleged that there were persistent attacks on the national security and stature of the nation as Imran Khan was a national criminal for sabotaging relief efforts and barring international agencies to stop aid to Pakistan.

Responding to a question related to army chief's appointment the minister said that the policy is as per the Constitution as any sitting Prime Minister in November would have to decide the nomination of the next COAS.

'Nawaz Sharif had done the process four times and this time Shehbaz Sharif will do it. This issue had never become popular on media and Imran Khan had played a very negative role in this regard. This is a constitutional procedure and should be done on its time. The Army Chief had his loyalty to the state and its Constitution. No one should have any question about it.'

Gastro claims six lives in Khairpur flood relief camps in 24 hrs

The Defence Minister also told reporters that the PM would convene National Security Committee meeting after his return and the issues would be discussed pertaining to Imran Khan's statements jeopardising national security. The law as per the Constitution should be applied without any discrimination to all, he said.

Earlier, he said that the country would need assistance from its neighbours and the world community due to massive floods as large-scale crop losses might cause famine.

The defence minister revealed in a media conference while sharing the updates of the Prime Minister's visit along with his delegation to Uzbekistan at Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit of the Council of Heads of State in Samarkand. Khawaja said the Prime Minister during his one-on-one interactions,

bilateral meetings and speeches at the SCO Summit had highlighted that the global north damages to ozone layer caused the disaster that directly impacted over 33 million people in Pakistan. 'He [Prime Minister] reiterated that in the coming days Pakistan would need the assistance of its neighbours and world community due to massive damage to its agriculture that would cause food security crisis,' the Minister said.

Punjab CM approves provision of gas to villages...