Ex-head of ISI named Pak’s new army chief

NEW DELHI: Lt Gen Asim Munir, a former head of the Inter-services Intelligence (ISI) agency, was on Thursday appointed the new Pakistan Army chief by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, ending intense speculation about choosing the successor to Gen Qamar Bajwa.

Munir was considered the dark horse among the six generals who were in the race for the top post as he was set to retire on November 27, just two days before Bajwa completes an extended tenure of six years.

People familiar with the matter said Munir’s reputation as a no-nonsense military officer known for his by-the-book approach to all matters helped clinch the post for him. A formal proposal was sent to President Arif Alvi in this regard, who gave his approval for the appointment.