Former ISI chief Asim Munir picked as subsequent Army Chief of Pakistan

Former ISI chief Lieutenant General Asim Munir has been chosen as the following chief of Pakistan’s military by PM Shahbaz Sharif. Current chief General Qamar Jawed Bajwa, 61, is scheduled to retire on November 29 after securing a three-year extension. At the identical time, Lt. Gen. Sahir Shamshad Mirza has been chosen because the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC).

Marriyum Aurangzeb, Minister of Information, introduced the information on Twitter. Aurangzeb took to Twitter, writing, “Using constitutional power, Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, has chosen to nominate Lt. Gen. Sahir Shamshad Mirza as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Lt. Gen. Syed Asim Munir as Chief of the Army Staff. A summary of this has been submitted to Pakistan’s President.”

وزیراعظم پاکستان محمد شہباز شریف نے آئینی اختیار استعمال کرتے ہوئے لیفٹنٹ جنرل ساحر شمشاد مرزا کو چئیرمین جوائنٹ چیفس آف سٹاف اور لیفٹنٹ جنرل سید عاصم منیر کو چیف آف دی آرمی سٹاف مقرر کرنے کا فیصلہ کیا ہے۔ اس بابت سمری صدر پاکستان کو ارسال کر دی گئی ہے۔

— Marriyum Aurangzeb (@Marriyum_A) November 24, 2022

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif instructed the media minutes after the information that the topic had been dealt with in accordance with the legislation and the Constitution. He careworn that president Arif Alvi ought to comply with the premier’s suggestion as a way to keep away from a “controversy.” He expressed hope that president Arif Alvi wouldn’t make the appointments “controversial” and would endorse the recommendation of the federal government.

ایڈوائس صدر علوی کے پاس چلی گئی ھے.اب عمران خان کا امتحان ھے وہ دفاع وطن کے ادارے کو مضبوط بنانا چاہتا ھے یا متنازعہ. صدر علوی کی بھی آزمائش ھے کے وہ سیاسی ایڈوائس پہ عمل کرینگےیاآئینی وقانونی ایڈوائس پہ. بحیثیت افواج کےسپریم کمانڈرادارے کو سیاسی تنازعات سےمحفوظ رکھنا انکا فرض ھے

— Khawaja M. Asif (@KhawajaMAsif) November 24, 2022

He posted the identical views on Twitter, saying that this might be a check for President Alvi, whether or not he’ll comply with political recommendation or constitutional and authorized recommendation. “As the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, it is his duty to protect the country from political conflicts,” Khawaja Asif stated referring to the president. He additionally stated that will probably be a check for former PM Imran Khan, on whether or not he’ll make the matter controversial or strengthen the establishment of the military.

It is notable that president Arif Alvi is a founding member of Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), and that’s why the present authorities is apprehensive that he might not approve the choice of the brand new military chief. In the in the meantime, Imran Khan has acknowledged Alvi will talk about with him the matter after receiving the abstract.

“When the summary comes, I and the president of Pakistan will act according to the Constitution and laws,” Imran Khan was quoted by the PTI on Twitter. Yesterday Imran Khan had stated that the president will ‘definitely’ talk about the appointment with him. “President Dr Arif 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,” the previous PM stated.

Who is Asim Munir?

Lt Gen Asim Munir was certainly one of three candidates vying for the highest two positions. He was the chief of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) when tensions between India and Pakistan peaked within the aftermath of the Pulwama terror assault in February 2019, which claimed the lifetime of 40 CRPF males. According to specialists acquainted with the state of affairs, Munir was among the many army decision-makers engaged in figuring out Pakistan’s response and safety measures on the time.

As per reviews, Munir’s choice as the following military chief might be a blow for former prime Minister Imran Khan because it comes at a time when the army and Khan are at odds over Khan’s earlier expulsion from workplace this yr. Imran Khan has known as for a rally in Rawalpindi on November 26, two days earlier than General Bajwa passes the baton to the incoming Army chief.

Over the course of its 75-year historical past, the military of Pakistan has dominated the nation with quite a lot of political sway. The nomination of Asim Munir might have an effect on Pakistan’s precarious authorities, its relationships with India and Afghanistan, which is now managed by the Taliban, in addition to its flex in direction of China or the United States.