Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz leader and former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has said that the matter of the appointment of the next chief of army staff may land in court if the name of any “eligible” officer was not on the list of senior generals, which would be sent by the current COAS Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa to the Prime Minister House.

A summary containing the list was to be moved on Monday but Defense Minister Khawaja Asif told reporters during the day that it had not been received.

“The fact that the summary has not been moved is a very big failure,” Abbasi said, speaking on Aaj News program “Faisala Aap Ka” with host Asma Shirazi.

The PML-N leader said that the appointment of the new army chief was a normal process, and according to the constitution the summary would be sent to the prime minister and he would make the appointment.

“The appointment takes place in the last two to three days, this is a tradition,” he said, adding that the army chief works till the last day as he had to make farewell visits.

He warned that if any “eligible” names is not included on the list of generals, it would be illegal and then the matter could be challenged in court. Including the name of an ineligible person is also illegal, he said.

“Therefore it is the responsibility of the secretary of defense or the minister of defense, and the defence division to ensure that there is no such situation that the matter is challenged in the court.”

Responding to a question regarding including the name of a general who is set to retire on November 27, two days before the current chief’s retirement, Abbasi said that if the said general is eligible his name will be included in the list according to the law. “But if he is not eligible his name can not be included.”

He said that the army chief is selected among the first five or six people. “If a three-star general is eligible, his name will be included,” he added.

Abbasi said that the prime minister has the right to finalize any name from the list, adding that not sending a summary to the prime minister would be illegal and unconstitutional.

He said that the summary could be sent to the prime minister during the current week as there was only a week left for the appointment of the new army chief.

“If there are insufficient names in the summary [sent to the prime minister], new names may be requested.”

He said that the role of the President should be neutral, but the incumbent president’s attitude seemed to be partial.

“If the file is sent back by the President, the appointment may be delayed.”

A couple of days earlier, PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also warned President Arif Alvi against blocking the PM’s summary regarding the army chief’s appointment, saying that it was the “last chance” for the president and he would have to bear “consequence” for any disorder.

It was not immediately clear whether Shahid Khaqan Abbasi is representing the entire ruling coalition, including the Pakistan People’s Party.

PPP co-chairman Asif Zardari has said in a recent statement that he thinks all the three-star generals are competing equally for the leadership of the Pakistan Army.

Responding to a question regarding PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif’s return to the country, Abbasi said that Nawaz Sharif had yet to undergo two medical treatments after which he would return.