Federal cabinet approves appointment of Lt Gen Asim Munir as new COAS
The federal cabinet has given approval to the appointment of Lt Gen Asim Munir as the new chief of army staff (COAS), sources told News360.
ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet has given approval to the appointment of Lt Gen Asim Munir as the new chief of army staff (COAS), sources told News360 on Thursday.
Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb said in a Twitter message today that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif while exercising his constitutional power appointed Lt Gen Sahir Shamshad Mirza as the chairman joint chiefs of staff committee (CJCSC) and Lt Gen Asim Munir as the chief of army staff (COAS).
She added that a summary was also forwarded to the president.
وزیراعظم پاکستان محمد شہباز شریف نے آئینی اختیار استعمال کرتے ہوئے لیفٹنٹ جنرل ساحر شمشاد مرزا کو چئیرمین جوائنٹ چیفس آف سٹاف اور لیفٹنٹ جنرل سید عاصم منیر کو چیف آف دی آرمی سٹاف مقرر کرنے کا فیصلہ کیا ہے۔ اس بابت سمری صدر پاکستان کو ارسال کر دی گئی ہے۔
— Marriyum Aurangzeb (@Marriyum_A) November 24, 2022
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said that the advice was forwarded to President Dr Arif Alvi. He said that is is test of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan whether he will strengthen the institution safeguarding the country or controversial.
He added that it is also a test of President Alvi whether he will implement the political advice or the constitutional and legal advice. It is the president’s responsibility the protect the supreme commander of the armed forces from political disputes.
ایڈوائس صدر علوی کے پاس چلی گئی ھے.اب عمران خان کا امتحان ھے وہ دفاع وطن کے ادارے کو مضبوط بنانا چاہتا ھے یا متنازعہ. صدر علوی کی بھی آزمائش ھے کے وہ سیاسی ایڈوائس پہ عمل کرینگےیاآئینی وقانونی ایڈوائس پہ. بحیثیت افواج کےسپریم کمانڈرادارے کو سیاسی تنازعات سےمحفوظ رکھنا انکا فرض ھے
— Khawaja M. Asif (@KhawajaMAsif) November 24, 2022
Asim Munir had been promoted to a three-star general on Sept 28, 2018, who was previously heading Military Intelligence as its director general.
Before his MI assignment, he was Force Commander Northern Areas, where he had for some time also worked under Gen Bajwa, who was then heading Corps X which is responsible for Northern Areas.
Lieutenant General Syed Asim Munir is the senior most officer after outgoing Army Chief Qamar Javed Bajwa and is currently serving as Quartermaster General in the Pakistan Army.
Lt-Gen Munir entered the service via the Officers Training School (OTS) programme in Mangla and was commissioned into the 23rd Battalion of the Frontier Force Regiment.
He was appointed DG of the Military Intelligence in early 2017 and then ISI Director General in October 2018. Eight months later, Lt-Gen Munir was posted as Gujranwala Corps Commander. He was moved to the GHQ as Quartermaster General two years later.
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. He is a ‘Hafiz-e-Quran’ who memorised the Quran during his posting in Saudi Arabia as Lt Colonel.
