Sharifs mull over Bajwa's successor.

The political huddle in London could not choose Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa's successor, it was learnt on Thursday.

The meeting, however, decided that the government would not succumb to any pressure from any quarters regarding the new military chief, including PTI Chairman Imran Khan.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif along with Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and others, who are in London in order to seek 'guidance' from PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif on key issues and developments, primarily discussed the appointment of new army chief, in addition to analysing the recent statements from the military's media wing, government's strategy to deal with the PTI's long march, among other things.

Meanwhile, the Sharif brothers reiterated that no concession - or face-saving as the elder Sharif put it the other day in a tweet - would be given to the PTI chief in connection with his demand for early elections or a date for the next elections by marching to the garrison and the capital city.

Sources privy to the development revealed that PML-N and the coalition leadership feel that Imran has exhausted all options but he could not get support from the powers that be, saying his desperation was evident through his recent statements.

A source revealed that the London huddle has, primarily, mulled over new army chief's appointment but also deliberated on the PTI's long march; when the elections suit the incumbent government; what are the areas where it is lacking; and when the PML-N supremo could return to Pakistan. 'Above all, everything is banking on the army chief's appointment, that's the top agenda item,' the source said.

In an interview to a media outlet, the defence minister also confirmed that he along with the prime minister were in London to seek guidance from the elder Sharif, saying the huddle could not finalise the name of new army chief during its meeting on Thursday but hoped that things in this regard would settle down soon.

Previously, Asif recalled that the summary for the new military chief was moved after November 18, saying there was still a week's time left and hopefully things would timely and smoothly conclude in this regard.

Sources in the PML-N revealed that the government was clear in its mind that it wanted stable relations with the establishment, adding the plan was to achieve 'reverse engineering' and to appoint a military chief, who does not force the government for early elections.

'Agreeing for the snap polls or giving a...