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ISLAMABAD: Federal cabinet on Thursday froze the retirement of newly nominated Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir, so that he could be eligible even after his supposed retirement date.
The senior most officer of the Pakistan Army is set to retire on November 27, a couple days before the outgoing General Bajwa’s retirement.
Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah made this announcement during an interview with ARY News. According to the Army Act, he claimed, the government has the right to postpone any officer’s retirement.
Earlier, using his constitutional authority, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chose to name Lieutenant General Sahir Shamshad Mirza as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee and Lieutenant General Syed Asim Munir as Chief of Army Staff.
He claimed that today’s cabinet meeting decided to delay Asim Munir’s retirement and then elevate him to the rank of four-star general.
Later, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif nominated General Asim Munir as the new COAS, as General Qamar Javed Bajwa is due to retire on November 29.
Replying to a question, Rana Sanaullah said President Arif Alvi has no other option rather than to sign the summary.
Who’s Lt. General Asim Munir?
After the departing Army Chief Qamar Javed Bajwa, Lieutenant General Syed Asim Munir is the Pakistan Army’s highest ranking official and is now the Quartermaster General.
Lt. Gen. Munir enlisted in the military through the Mangla Officers Training School (OTS) program and was commissioned into the Frontier Force Regiment’s 23rd Battalion.
Early in 2017, he was named director general of the military intelligence. In October 2018, he was named director general of the ISI.
Prior to being transferred to the General Headquarters as the quartermaster general, he was stationed as the commander of the Gujranwala Corps, a position he held for two years.
Lt-Gen Munir is the recipient of the Sword of Honour from the 17th course of the Officers Training School in Mangla. Also, he is the recipient of the Hilal-i-Imtiaz.
