PM Shehabaz decides to appoint Lt. Gen. Syed Asim Munir Ahmed Shah as COAS, Lt. Gen. Sahir Shamshad Mirza as CJCSC
ISLAMABAD, Nov 24, (SABAH): Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has decided to appoint Lieutenant General Sahir Shamshad Mirza as the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee and Lieutenant General Hafiz Syed Asim Munir Ahmed Shah as the Chief of Army Staff using the constitutional authority.
In a tweet on Thursday, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb said a summary this effect has been sent to the President.
The information minister added that the summary of the appointments has been sent to President Dr. Arif Alvi for ratification. Both the officers picked for the slots were the senior-most military officials.
Meanwhile speaking to the media minutes after the announcement was made, Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad 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”.
He expressed the hope that the president would not make the appointments “controversial” and would endorse the advice of the premier.
The defence minister reiterated that the president should endorse the premier’s advice so that a “controversy may not arise”. “This will also help our country and the economy to get on track. Currently, everything is at a standstill.”
He expressed the same in a tweet, saying that the advice had been forwarded to the president. He went on to say that it would now be a test for former premier Imran Khan where he could either strengthen the institution responsible for defending the country or make it controversial.
“This is also a test for President Dr. Arif Alvi, whether he will follow political advice or the constitutional and legal advice,” he said. “As the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, it is his duty to protect the country from political conflicts,” he said about Alvi.
Lt General 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.
Lt-Gen Munir commanded troops in the Force Command Northern Areas as a brigadier under Gen Bajwa, who was then Commander X Corps. He was appointed DG of the Military Intelligence in early 2017 and then ISI Director General in October 2018.
Eight months later, Lt-Gen Munir was posted Gujranwala Corps Commander. He was moved to the GHQ as Quartermaster General two years later.
Lt-Gen Munir is the recipient of the Sword of Honour from the 17th course of the Officers Training School in Mangla. Also, he is the recipient of the Hilal-i-Imtiaz.
He is a ‘Hafiz-e-Quran’ who memorised the Quran during his posting in Saudi Arabia as Lt Colonel.
Lt Gen Sahir Shamshad Mirza is the second on the seniority list. He is Corps Commander Rawalpindi. He also served as Chief of General Staff (CGS), a key position most army chiefs held in the past.
CGS is known as the de facto army chief since he heads both the operational and intelligence directorates in the army. In simple words, every file in the army goes through his table.
Previously he served as Director General Military Operations. General Sahir has an interesting personal background. He lost his parents at an early age. He rose to this position with sheer hard work and struggle.
It is said that he mentioned his unit in the parents’ column. Those who know Gen Sahir closely say he enjoys a good reputation in the army. He is not involved in any controversy and there is not much debate about his candidature.