In mid-September 2023, Pakistan’s army witnessed a significant reshuffling of its top brass as three major generals ascended to the coveted three-star rank of lieutenant generals. Surprisingly, this time, the Pakistani media exercised restraint by withholding the usual disclosure of detailed promotion information, deviating from past practices.
This subtle shift in approach bears the hallmark, perhaps, of General Asim Munir, who assumed the role of Pakistan’s army chief amidst considerable controversy that had been deliberately ignited by the ousted Prime Minister, Imran Khan. It suggests that General Munir may still be grappling to assert his authority within the institution, a challenge exacerbated by the tumultuous events of May 9, 2023.
Among the key retirements on September 14, 2023, were Lieutenant General Muhd Aamer, an esteemed figure from the Artillery Corps, who had served as Corps Commander for XXX Corps in Gujranwala, and hailed from the 76th Pakistan Military Academy (PMA) Long Course. Also retiring was Lieutenant General Chiragh Haider, a distinguished officer from the Frontier Force Regiment (FFR) and a product of the 18th Officers Training School (OTS) course, who had held the position of Director General of Training & Evaluation (DG, IET) at General Headquarters (GHQ). Completing the trio was Lieutenant General Khalid Zia, hailing from the Punjab Regiment, who had served as the Military Secretary and belonged to the 77th PMA Long Course.
Notably, Lieutenant General Nadeem Anjum, who was the Director General of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), was initially slated to retire on September 13 but emerged with a rumored extension, the duration of which remains somewhat ambiguous. While some reports allude to a one-year extension, others suggest that it might be open-ended and shorter in duration.
Extensions for ISI chiefs are relatively rare, with only two instances in the past. The first was Lieutenant General Akhtar Abdul Rehman, who held the position for a remarkable seven years (1980-1987), mainly overseeing Pakistan’s Afghan policy during the Soviet invasion. The second was Lieutenant General Ahmed Shuja Pasha, whose extension (2011-2012) under General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani stirred controversy among his peers and led to his somewhat contentious departure.
Lieutenant General Nadeem appears to have secured the trust of the army chief, potentially to play a supportive role in the upcoming political maneuvers as Pakistan heads towards the crucial elections in January 2024. He is also involved in efforts, through the newly established Special Investment Facilitation Council, to attract army-guided economic investments aimed at stabilizing Pakistan’s precarious economy.
While customary supersessions occurred in the promotion pyramid, it is noteworthy that major generals from the 82nd Pakistan Military Academy, Kakul Long Course have been promoted. Major General Amer Ahsan Nawaz, of the Baloch Regiment, who was previously the Commandant of the Command and Staff College in Quetta, now assumes the role of the Military Secretary, a significant assignment for a relatively junior general. The position of CSC Commandant typically signifies a highly esteemed officer on the path to career advancement.
The postings of the other two promoted major generals, Tahir Hameed Shah (Artillery), who is now the Director General of Weapons and Equipment at General Headquarters, and Sarfraz Ahmed (Air Defence), who transitioned from the General Officer Commanding position at 8 Div in Sialkot to Inspector General of Arms at GHQ, are yet to be announced.
In the meantime, XXX Corps in Gujranwala has remained without a head for nearly two weeks and counting. Officers from the 80th PMA Long Course, such as Lieutenant General Asim Malik (Adjutant General), Lieutenant General Fayyaz Hussain Shah (IG Training and Evaluation), and Lieutenant General Nauman Zakaria (DG, National Logistics Cell), are actively vying for Corps commands.
One notable aspect of these promotions is the supersession of Major General Irfan Ahmed Malik from the Artillery, who had served as Commander of Strategic Forces, North, Sargodha. His controversial remarks, reportedly threatening Maryam Nawaz, daughter of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, had garnered attention. Despite efforts to mitigate the resulting notoriety, he has been assigned the position of Director General, Military Lands and Cantonments.
Major General Naseem Anwar, from the Frontier Force Regiment and the 87th PMA, has assumed the role of Commandant at the Command and Staff College in Quetta. Furthermore, there have been changes at the major general level, with Division commanders under IV Corps in Lahore being replaced following perceived inaction during the disturbances in the Lahore cantonment on May 9.
In summary, with these promotions, Pakistan now has 25 three-star generals, distributed across various corps and regiments. While two or three vacancies remain, General Munir may await further openings, including retirements expected in November, potentially affecting trusted aides such as Lieutenant General Muhd Saeed (Sindh Regiment) and Lieutenant General Ali Amir Awan (Artillery). Rumors persist about the possibility of Saeed also receiving an extension, mirroring Lieutenant General Nadeem’s situation.
Notably, Lieutenant General Munir Afsar, from the Punjab Regiment, currently serving as IG Communications and IT, is set to take charge of the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA). This independent and autonomous agency operates under the interior ministry, overseeing government databases and the sensitive registration data of all Pakistani citizens.
On the political front, the popularity of Imran Khan remains undiminished, despite ongoing legal proceedings in the Cipher leaks case that seek to prolong his incarceration. The Election Commission of Pakistan is still deliberating on whether to ban Imran’s party, the Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf, from participating in the forthcoming elections.
Additionally, an insecure Asim Munir could face new challenges regarding accountability within the army, should Chief Justice Qazi Faiz Isa continue to pursue the review petitions stemming from his 2019 Faizabad Mor judgment, scheduled to resume early next month.
October 4, 2023