Dawood Ahmed:
Speculations and rumors came to an end, President Dr. Arif Alvi formally approved the appointment of lieutenant general Syed Asim Munir as the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) on Thursday evening.
Lt Gen Asim Munir has been named as the chief of army staff and Lt Gen Sahir Shamshad Mirza has been named as the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee.
The confirmation of the president’s approval was given in a statement issued by the Aiwan-e-Sadr.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif appointed Lieutenant General Syed Asim Munir as the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) on Thursday morning. Federal Information Minister Maryam Aurangzaib said the PM has appointed Lt. General Syed Asim Munir as the new army chief.
“The president has promoted Lieutenant General Syed Asim Munir HI(M) to the rank of General with immediate effect and appointed him as Chief of Army Staff with effect from 29th November 2022,” the press release said.
“President Dr. Arif Alvi has promoted Lieutenant General Sahir Shamshad Mirza HI(M) to the rank of General with immediate effect and appointed him as Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee with effect from 27th November 2022.”
The statement said that the promotions and appointments were made under article 243(4) (a) and (b) and Article 48(1) of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. “In this regard, the President has signed the summary received in his office, today,” it added.
Maryam Aurangzeb also took to Twitter and made this important announcement. She went on to say that a summary of the same had been sent to President Arif Alvi.
Speaking to the media minutes after the announcement was made, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said the “advice” had been forwarded to President Alvi.
He said that all matters had been settled according to the law and the Constitution, calling on the nation to refrain from viewing it through a “political lens”. He expressed the hope that the president would not make the appointment “controversial” and would endorse the advice of the premier.
