Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif approves Lt General Asim Munir as next Army Chief

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has cleared the appointment of Lieutenant General Asim Munir as the next chief of army staff of Pakistan, according to a report in Pakistani newspaper The News International.

“Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, using his Constitutional authority, has decided to appoint Lt General Asim Munir as the army chief and Lt General Sahir Shamshad Mirza as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC),” Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb confirmed.

Taking to Twitter, Aurangzeb said that the summary for the appointments has been sent to President Arif Alvi.

In a media talk and tweet posted immediately after the announcement, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said the “advice” over the appointments had been forwarded to President Alvi.

All the matters have been settled in line with the Constitution of Pakistan and hopefully the president will not create a controversy,” Asif told reporters.

The minister refused to comment on PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s claim of consultation with President Alvi over the matter. He said that he has tweeted on the matter.

He said that the Pakistan Air Force, navy, and army shouldn’t be made controversial. Asif said that a detailed press release regarding the development will be issued.

“Now, it’s a test [for] Imran Khan if he wants to strengthen the national defence institution or make it controversial. It is also a test for President Alvi on whether he will follow political advice or constitutional and legal advice,” Asif wrote on Twitter.