Former prime minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi Tuesday welcomed President Arif Alvi’s call for dialogue among political parties on early elections and the current economic situation.

“All political parties should sit together and should discuss the issues,” Abbasi said speaking exclusively on Aaj News programme ‘Faisla Aap Ka’ with host Asma Shirazi.

Earlier this month, the president, in an interview with a private TV channel, had said that the government and the business community were more concerned about the economic conditions and reiterated that political parties should undertake discussions.

Abbasi, while speaking about the appointment of the new army chief, said that army chief’s appointment was the prerogative of the prime minister and it should not be made controversial. “Imran Khan wants to drag this institution into politics which is harmful.”

He was of the view that the law regarding the extension of the army chief’s tenure should be amended. “Previous legislation has created ambiguity in the system, the extension is not the right of the army chief.”

He said that PTI Chairperson Imran Khan had extended the army chief’s tenure without consultation.

“What he [Imran Khan] did we are suffering today. Law will have to be made that there will be no extension, however, extension in exceptional circumstances will be the authority of the parliament only.”