ISLAMABAD: Lt Gen Asim Munir has been named the new army chief of Pakistan, the federal government announced on Thursday morning.The statement was made on Twitter by Marriyum Aurangzeb, minister of information, who stated that the premier had exercised his constitutional rights in making the decision. Lt Gen Sahir Shamshad Mirza, she added, had been chosen to lead the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC).
Defense Minister Khawaja Asif told the media shortly after the revelation that President Arif Alvi had received the “advice.” After departing Army Chief Qamar Javed Bajwa, Lieutenant General Asim Munir is the Pakistan Army’s highest ranking official and is currently the Quartermaster General.
Lt. Gen. Munir enlisted in the military through the Mangla Officers Training School (OTS) programme and was commissioned into the Frontier Force Regiment’s 23rd Battalion.As a brigadier, Lt. Gen. Munir oversaw soldiers in the Force Command Northern Areas for Gen. Bajwa, who was then the Commander X Corps. Early in 2017, he was named director general of the military intelligence. In October 2018, he was named director general of the ISI.
Lt. Gen. Munir was appointed Gujranwala Corps Commander eight months later. Two years later, he was appointed Quartermaster General at the GHQ. The 17th course of the Officers Training School in Mangla awarded the Sword of Honor to Lt. Gen. Munir. He has also been awarded the Hilal-i-Imtiaz.
He is a “Hafiz-e-Quran,” having memorised the Quran while serving as a Lt. Colonel in Saudi Arabia.