'PML-N not consulted on Kayani's extension'

Islamabad, July 25(ANI): Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) spokesman Ahsan Iqbal has said his party was not taken into confidence by the government on giving a three-year extension to Army Chief General Ashfaq Kayani.

Kayani was originally due to retire on November 28, but will now remain in office until 2013.

The extension is only the second such incident in Pakistan's history when a civilian regime has increased the services of the Chief of the Army Staff (COAS).

The first such extension was given by former president Iskandar Mirza to General Ayub Khan.

The three army chiefs-Field Marshal Ayub Khan, General Zia-ul-Haq and General Pervez Musharraf had extended their own terms while holding the office of the President. (ANI)