Between the long march’s progress, PDM’s allegations that Imran wants a favourable army chief, and the Sharif family’s consultations in London, Pakistan’s political temperature has been heating up. All things point to the new army chief’s appointment being the sun around which every political development is orbiting.

So here are two key developments, that give some clarity on where things are going.

Changes to the army act

While the country speculates over who will be the next chief, the government has reportedly planned a move that may make the process alot different than it has been in the past.

Dawn reported that the government is planning to amend the Pakistan Army Act 1952. The change will be made in Section 176 titled ‘Power to make rules’. “The word ‘retention’ shall be inserted after ‘reappointment’ in the current text of the law, while the word ‘resignation’ would be inserted after the word ‘release’,” Dawn reported.

The main implication of this change is that the PM can make changes to the army’s highest office with the stroke of a pen, instead of going through the whole process of receiving, reviewing and approving summaries.

However, the main difference this will make is that the chief executive can allow any officer, whose retirement is approaching, to keep working untile further instructions. This could have implications for Lt. General Asim Munir, who is set to retire on November 27. It can also pave the way for extensions to be granted to army chiefs without fuss.

Khawaja gives key dates

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif told the media in two separate appearances that the day of receiving recommendations from GHQ and making a final decision on the army chief’s name is set.

He told Aaj TV’s Asma Shirazi on Tuesday that the name of the next army chief will be revealed on November 25 or 26. He also reiterated that the senior most officer will be promoted to four-star rank. The early announcement date could be linked to General Munir’s retirement date.

Talking to reporters outside the parliament on Wednesday, the minister revealed another date. He said that the GHQ will send its final list of candidates to the the government for approval on 18 or 19 November. When the names are received, the process of selecting the next chief will formally begin

The plans of promoting the senior most officer were also reported after the Sharif brothers met in London. So Aaj English prepared brief profiles of the six senior most officers in the army.

Read: Who will be the next army chief? The top six contenders