ISLAMABAD -UNS : Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has decided to appoint Lieutenant General Syed Asim Munir as New Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and Lieutenant General Sahir Shamshad Mirza as New Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC).
After weeks of intense speculation,rumours and consultations with government allies parties and others stake holders,the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday had made the choice while exercising his constitutional authority for appointment of Army Chief for world most professional and seventh largest Pak army.
In her Twitter post the Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb made the announcement.She said that Lt Gen Sahir Shamshad Mirza had been picked as the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) and Lieutenant General Syed Asim Munir as New Chief of Army Staff.
She went on to say that a summary of the same had been sent to President Arif Alvi.
Speaking to the media minutes after the announcement was made, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said the matter had been decided according to the law and the Constitution, calling on the nation to refrain from viewing it through a “political lens”.
Gen Asim Munir was the senior most general in the list of seniority while Gen Sahir was number 2 on the list.
Earlier , Imran Khan said that “when the summary comes, I and the president of Pakistan will act according to the Constitution and laws”.
His statement comes a day after Imran claimed President Alvi would “definitely” consult him as soon as the summary for the appointment of next army chief reaches his office.
“President Alvi will definitely consult me on the summary for the appointment of army chief and take a decision as per the law and Constitution. I am head of the party that Dr Alvi belongs to,” he remarked while speaking to journalists at his Zaman Park residence on Wednesday.
A statement from Aiwan-i-Sadr said Gen Raza called on President Alvi in a farewell meeting.
“The president appreciated the services of General Nadeem Raza for national defence,” it said. “The president expressed his best wishes for Gen Raza.”
The next army chief’s appointment is at times mentioned as one of the major subplots in the ongoing political crisis engulfing the country which began earlier this year following the tabling of a no-trust motion against Imran.
Who is Lt Gen Sahir Shamshad Mirza?
Lieutenant General Sahir Shamshad Mirza is a three-star general in the Pakistan Army who is currently serving as a commander for Rawalpindi Corps.
The recipient of Hilala-e-Imtiaz (Military) has served in senior leadership positions in his career, including director-general military operations (DGMO), Chief of General Staff, and Adjutant General at the General Headquarters.
Mirza was commissioned in the 8th Battalion of the Sind Regiment as second lieutenant in 1985. He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant general in 2019.
Who is Lieutenant General Asim Munir?
Lieutenant General Syed Asim Munir is the senior most officer after outgoing Army Chief Qamar Javed Bajwa and is currently serving as Quartermaster General in the Pakistan Army.
Lt-Gen Munir entered the service via the Officers Training School (OTS) programme in Mangla and was commissioned into the 23rd Battalion of the Frontier Force Regiment.
He was appointed DG of the Military Intelligence in early 2017 and then ISI Director General in October 2018.
