ISLAMABAD: President of Pakistan Dr Arif Alvi today approved the appointments of new army chief and chairman of joint chiefs of staff committee.
President approved these appointments on the recommendation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
PM Shehbaz Sharif sent his an advice to the President, recommending names of Lt-General Asim Munir as new army chief and Lt-General Sahir Shamshad Mirza as CJCSC with effect from Nov 29. Both the top posts of army will be vacant after the retirement of incumbent army chief General Bajwa and CJCSC Nadeem Raza.
Before approving the names of both the Generals, President Alvi rushed to Lahore to hold consultation with his party _ PTI chairman Imran Khan.
With Lt Gen Munir set to retire on November 27, the federal cabinet had decided to extend the duration of his service until his term as COAS is completed.
President Dr Alvi, after receiving the summary containing PM Shehbaz’s advice, had later traveled to Lahore to consult with former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan.
Alvi hails from the PTI and, as per Imran’s statement the other day, he would consult the party chief before deciding on whether to immediately act on the advice or wait.
Earlier, Federal Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said the Prime Minister has appointed Syed Asim Munir as the next army chief of Pakistan. Asim Munir is the senior most Lt-General at this time.
Now he will be promoted as 4-Star General and appointed as new army chief from Nov 29.
She told the media today that the PM Shehbaz has sent advice to the President of Pakistan Arif Alvi for the appointment of Syed Asim Munir as army chief and Sahir Shamshad as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee.
She said that the Prime Minister has taken into confidence the cabinet members and coalition partners to appoint new army chief and CJCSC.
A day earlier, following the statement of the Inter Services Public Relations statement, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said the Prime Minister Office has received the summary containing names of six senior most Lt-Generals for the appointment of the top two positions in the military _ CJCSC and COAS.
Khawaja Asif tweeted, “The Prime Minister Office has received the summary from the Ministry of Defence.”
More to follow……
