The Federal government has officially notified the appointment of General Asim Munir as the next chief of army staff (COAS) and General Sahir Shamshad Mirza as chairman of the joint chiefs of staff committee (CJCSC).
The development comes after PTI leader and President Dr. Arif Alvi approved Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s nominations for the next army chief and CJCSC, hours after receiving a summary in this regard.
The President’s approval regarding the new COAS and CJCSC ended the uncertainty surrounding the key appointments in the military.
Read more: Govt selects Pakistan’s next COAS & CJCSC
To clarify, after receiving the summary from the Prime Minister, President Dr. Arif Alvi left Islamabad for Lahore to hold a meeting over the matter with PTI Chairman Imran Khan at Zaman Park.
All eyes were on the meeting between Imran Khan and Dr. Arif Alvi because earlier, the PTI Chairman had said that the President would “definitely” consult him as soon as the summary for the appointment of the next army chief reaches his office.
After the meeting with Imran Khan, the President approved the summary, making the appointments of General Asim Munir as the next chief of army staff and General Sahir Shamshad Mirza as chairman of the joint chiefs of staff committee smooth.
Today, the Ministry of Defence issued an official notification regarding the appointment, while also stating that the incumbent CJCSC Gen Nadeem Raza and Army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa will retire on November 27 and 29 respectively.
My congratulations and best wishes to the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee-designate Lt. General Sahir Shamshad Mirza and Chief of the Army Staff-designate Lt. General Asim Munir on their appointment.
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) November 24, 2022
Lt Gen Asim Munir served as the Quartermaster General in the Pakistan Army. He was appointed DG of the Military Intelligence in early 2017 and then ISI Director General in October 2018. 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.
On the other hand, Lt Gen Sahir Shamshad Mirza served as a commander for Rawalpindi Corps. He has also served as the director-general of military operations (DGMO), Chief of General Staff, and Adjutant General at the General Headquarters. He has also received Hilala-e-Imtiaz (Military). Mirza was commissioned in the 8th Battalion of the Sind Regiment as the second lieutenant in 1985. He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant general in 2019.