ISLAMABAD: Now that Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani has made it clear that he will go home in the end of November, all the focus will shift to the prime minister’s office which is expected to announce the new Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee and the new COAS. The speculations will continue and the rumour mills will keep working for the time being.

Already there have been reports that a summary listing the top choices has been sent to the prime minister; however, this has not been confirmed by the government.

But some clarity may emerge once the new CJCSC is announced in the coming days as General Khalid Shamim Wynne, the current CJCSC, retires on Oct 8.

If the principle of seniority is applied and the army continues its domination over this post, Chief of Logistics Staff Lt General Haroon Aslam is the senior most after General Kayani and will be elevated to this post.

His name has been mentioned by some as the next CJCSC.

But there have also been discussions about introducing more fairness to the issue and rotating this post among the three services. There are also reports that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is keen to do this — if this is the case then Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Asif Sandila is reported to be sitting pretty.

But if the position is retained by the army, the convention demands that the three senior most names are sent to the prime minister for him to make a choice.

If this convention is adhered to, the three names Mr Sharif will be considering are: Lt General Rashad Mehmood, Chief of General Staff; Lt General Raheel Sharif, Inspector General Training and Evaluation; and Lt General Tariq Khan, Corps Commander Mangla.—Staff Reporter