Islamabad: After weeks of rumors and speculations, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has chosen Pakistan’s army chief. Lt. Azim Munir is Pakistan’s new army chief. This was informed by Pakistan Minister Maryam Aurangzeb.
Asim Munir is being appointed to replace the current army chief, General Qamar Javed Bajwa. Bajwa, 61, will retire on November 29. Lt Gen Zahir Shamshad Mirza has been selected as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC). Lt Gen Munir, the new COAC (Chief of Army Staff), will become the 17th Army Chief of Pakistan. Both officers have been promoted to four-star generals.
CJCSC is the highest authority in the armed forces. But COAS is vested with major powers including appointments and transfers of forces.
Muneer was appointed and removed within eight months of Imran Khan’s tenure as Prime Minister. Then an officer close to Imran Khan was appointed. After this, Shehbaz Sharif government appointed Muneer again.
Munir, who hails from the Frontier Force Regiment, was the ISI chief in 2019. Before that, he was the head of the military intelligence department from 2016 to 2018. When he was the ISI chief, Muneer was removed due to the displeasure of former Prime Minister Imran Khan.