General Sahir Shamshad Mirza and General Asim Munir have been appointed as the new chairman joint chiefs of staff committee (CJCSC) and chief of army staff (COAS) of Pakistan, respectively, ending weeks of intense speculations and political tussle in the country.
The decision was announced after PM Shehbaz held a federal cabinet meeting earlier today to mull over the high-profile appointments after the allied parties authorised him to pick the officers for the top slots.
There had been wide speculation about whether or not General Bajwa will seek another extension. However, the COAS indicated several months ago that he planned to retire this year. Outgoing COAS Bajwa was due to retire on November 29, 2019, at the end of his stipulated term, but was given a three-year extension in service by then-prime minister Khan on August 19, 2019.
General Asim Munir will be Pakistan’s 17th army chief since it became independent. Lieutenant General Munir is currently serving as the Quarter Master General at the General Headquarters (GHQ), according to Radio Pakistan. In his current role, he is overseeing supplies for all military units. Lieutenant General Munir graduated from the Officers Training School (OTS) in Mangla, and was commissioned into the 23rd Battalion of the Frontier Force Regiment.
Lieutenant General Asim Munir previously served as Corps Commander Gujranwala, and headed Pakistan’s two most influential intelligence agencies – the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Military Intelligence. Lieutenant General Munir’s stint as ISI chief was just eight months, the shortest ever, as he was sacked by then Prime minister Imran Khan in 2019.
His appointment to the powerful post of army chief comes at a time when Imran Khan has been locked in a confrontation with the military and the ISI. Following the arrival of the summary, President Arif Alvi reached Lahore to meet PTI chief Imran Khan for consultation and after which he reached Islamabad and signed the summary, ending the controversy on merit, which is a good omen.
The consensus shown by the political parties on the matter is need of the hour and this consensus should be displayed for pulling the country out of economic crises.
