Lieutenant General Asim Munir, who is General Qamar Javed Bajwa’s replacement, has been chosen by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif after days of rumours, anticipation, and apprehensions that the appointment to the military’s highest office might be delayed.
Lt Gen Munir is an outstanding officer, but due to the technicalities involved, it was previously thought he would remain the proverbial dark horse in the race for army chief.
He was the Pakistan Army’s Quartermaster General prior to being named the new army chief.
Lt Gen Syed Asim Munir, who will take over as Army Chief on November 29, is the most senior officer in the Pakistani Army.
When Lt Gen Munir first enlisted in the military, he was commissioned into the 23rd Battalion of the Frontier Force Regiment after completing the Officers Training School (OTS) in Mangla.
He was in charge of the units that made up Force Command Northern Areas as a brigadier. General Bajwa, who was in charge of X Corps at the time, was the person he reported to.
In addition, at the start of 2017, he was appointed Director General of Military Intelligence (MI), and in October 2018 he was appointed Director General (DG) of the ISI.
Lt Gen Munir was relieved of command of the Gujranwala Corps after eight months. He received a promotion to Quartermaster General in the GHQ two years later.
During his time in Saudi Arabia, he memorised the entire Quran, earning him the title “Hafiz-e-Quran.”
Lt Gen Munir was awarded the Sword of Honor by the 17th course of Officers Training School in Mangla.
In addition, he has received the Hilal-i-Imtiaz award.
His last day of service is November 27.
Pavan Manzoor is an experienced content writer , editor and social media handler along with a track record of youth-oriented activities in Pakistan and abroad. She was selected as a fully-funded delegate as a leadership fellow in Turkey. She also led a team of 5 volunteers at the week-long Young Professionals Fellowship in Maldives. She is also a member of the Youth Standing Committee on Higher Education.
