ISLAMABAD : Nov 24,2022: Lt General ,Asim Munir , has become Pakistan’s new army chief and Lt Gen Sahir Shamshad Chairman Joint Chiefs of Army Staff (CJCAS)..
Defence minister , Khawaja Asif , announced these two important appointments of the army ranks here at a press conference on Thursday.
Earlier , the federal cabinet , which met here with prime minister , Shahbaz Sharif in the chair , had endorsed appointment of Lt Gen Asim Munir as new chief of Army Staff (COAS) and Lt Gen Sahir Shamshad as CJCAS.
With appointments of the new army chief Pakistan is likely to see stability as this important appointment was under debate in the society and a cause of divide among political circles for months.
Defence minister, Khawaja Asif, had expected in his informal media talk in Islamabad on Wednesday that with the appointment of the new army chief the on-going political turmoil will come to an end .
Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif was also under pressure for taking extra time in taking a decision for appointment of the new army chief .
Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI) leadership had been a major factor to add pressure on the Shahbaz government in the case of appointment of the new army chief .
Prime Minister, Shahbaz Sharif , had taken the leadership of coalition partners into confidence on the appointment of the new army chief and CJCAS on Wednesday .
The coalition partners had given full authority to the prime minister to exercise his constitutional authority to appoint the new army chief and CJCAS.
Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN) supremo , Nawaz Sharif , had advised prime minister , Shahbaz Sharif , to appoint the senior most Lt General as the army chief when the latter visited London some two weeks ago.
The appointment of the senior most Lt General as the army chief is a healthy tradition and a good development for Pakistan. It can help Pakistan avoid bickering among the political leadership of the country on this important appointment in the future .
Defence analyst , Col (R) Qadeer Butt , in his comments on the appointment of senior most Lt Gen as army chief of Pakistan said ” I think its a great development and a healthy tradition which would pay Pakistan good dividend’ .
He also believes with the announcement of the new army chief a storm of speculations and rumours will come to an end and Pakistan will move forward.
