General Qamar Javed Bajwa, the current chief of Pakistan’s army is set to retire on November 29, after nearly six years as Chief of Pakistan’s Army and numerous tenure extensions.
Given the power of the Pakistani Army in Pakistan’s politics, the appointment of the new Chief will be controversial, especially at a time when the country is in midst of political turmoil.
Imran Khan, former Prime Minister who was ousted in a no-confidence vote in April has said a new army chief should only be named after the country holds snaps elections because he believes that the current Government will appoint a Chief who is more favorable towards them.
Imran Khan also blamed the United States to oust him while accusing the army of not doing enough to save his government.
Some of the leading contenders for the posts are as follows:
Lieutenant General Asim Munir
The general from the Frontier Force Regiment has led the nation’s elite spy agency- Inter-Services Intelligence- which focuses on security and military intelligence. He has served under General Bajwa’s direct command and was removed by Imran Khan within eight months of his appointment and replaced with an officer considered close to him. He is currently serving at the army headquarters as quartermaster general — charged with overseeing supplies for all military units.
Lieutenant General Sahir Shamshad Mirza
The three-star general is the senior-most serving officer in the army after General Bajwa. As director general of military operations, he oversaw strikes against the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan and other militant groups in the North Waziristan province, near the Afghan border, Bloomberg reported.
Lieutenant General Faiz Hamid
The most talked-about army commander on the list is believed to be an Imran Khan loyalist who was in charge of the ISI when the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan. General Faiz Hamid was photographed sipping tea at Kabul’s iconic Serena Hotel as well, Bloomberg reported.
Lieutenant General Azhar Abbas
General Azhar Abbas Abbas currently holds the second most important position in the military- chief of general staff- and oversees the military’s operational and intelligence business.
Lieutenant General Nauman Mahmood Lieutenant General Nauman Mahmood has headed an ISI department that looks into foreign policy and related security issues. He is now serving as the president of the National Defense University, Pakistan’s top military education institution.
