Run for COAS: Who would be the king? General Qamar Javed Bajwa will conclude his tenure as Chief of Army Staff (COAS) in the last week of November 2022.
According to media reports, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif could begin the appointment process for the next Army Chief by the end of this month, and an official decision could be made by the middle of the following month.
Traditionally, General Headquarters (GHQ) provides the Ministry of Defense with a list of the four or five most senior Lieutenant Generals. The Ministry then transmits the list to the PM Office, where the prime minister selects the most qualified candidate as COAS.
The President issues the official notification for the appointment of the COAS in accordance with Article 243 (3), which states: The President shall, on the advice of the Prime Minister, appoint-
a. the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee
b. the Chief of the Army Staff
c. the Chief of the Naval Staff
d. the Chief of the Air Staff shall also determine their salaries and allowances.
In addition, Schedule V-A of the Rules of Business, which details the cases to be presented to the PM for approval, states: The appointment of lieutenant-generals and ranks above in the army and other Defense Services will be made by the prime minister in consultation with the president.
Since the date for initiating the selection process for the next Army Chief is approaching, let’s take a look at the six most senior Lieutenant-Generals who are in the running for the position.
Lt. Gen. Syed Asim Munir Ahmed Shah
Lt. Gen. Asim Munir is currently posted as Quarter Master General at the GHQ. He joined the army through the 17th OTS course, Mangla, and was commissioned in the 23rd Battalion of Frontier Force Regiment.
He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-General in September 2018 followed by his appointment as the Director General (DG) of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) next month.
The general has previously served as the DG Military Intelligence (MI), Commander XXX Corps in Gujranwala, and Commander Force Command Northern Areas.
Lt. Gen. Sahir Shamshad Mirza
Lt. Gen. Sahir Shamshad Mirza is currently posted as Commander X Corps in Rawalpindi. He was commissioned in the 8th Battalion of Sindh Regiment.
He has previously served as the Chief of General Staff, Adjutant General GHQ, Vice Chief of General Staff, DG Military Operations (MO), and General Officer Commanding (GOC) 40th Infantry Division in Okara.
Lt. Gen. Azhar Abbas
Lt. Gen. Azhar Abbas is currently posted as the Chief of General Staff, which is the most coveted post in the Pakistan Army after the Chief of Army Staff.
As the Chief of General Staff, Lt. Gen. Azhar Abbas is responsible for operational and intelligence affairs at the GHQ in Rawalpindi.
He was commissioned in the 41st Battalion of Baloch Regiment. He has previously served as the Commander X Corps in Rawalpindi, DG Joint Staff at Joint Staff Headquarters Chaklala, Commandant School of Infantry and Tactics in Quetta, GOC 12 Infantry Division in Murree, and Private Secretary to former COAS, General Raheel Sharif.
Lt. Gen. Nauman Mehmood
Lt. Gen. Nauman Mehmood is currently posted as the President of the National Defense University (NDU) in Islamabad. He was commissioned in the Baloch Regiment.
The general has previously served as the Commander XI Corps in Peshawar, GCO of Infantry Regiment in North Waziristan, DG Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Analysis Wing, and IG Communication and Information Technology at GHQ Rawalpindi.
He has also served as Chief Instructor, Senior Instructor, and Instructor Class A at the Command and Staff College in Quetta.
Lt. Gen. Faiz Hameed
Lt. Gen. Faiz Hameed was commissioned in the Baloch Regiment. He is presently posted as Commander XXXI Corps in Bahawalpur. From January 2017 to April 2019, Lt. Gen. Faiz Hameed served as the DG ISI.
He has previously served as the Commander XI Corps in Peshawar, Adjutant General GHQ, GOC of the 16 Infantry Division in Pano Akil, and DG Counter Intelligence GHQ.
Lt. Gen. Mohammad Amir
Lt. Gen. Mohammad Amir was commissioned in the Artillery Regiment. He is currently serving as Commander XXX Corps in Gujranwala.
The general has previously served as the Adjutant General GHQ, Commander 10 Infantry Division in Lahore, DG Staff Duties at COAS Secretariat, and Military Secretary to former President Asif Zardari.
Bajwa extension
Although General Bajwa was granted a three-year extension in August 2019, the extension was suspended by the Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) in November 2019.
The supreme court granted a six-month extension to General Bajwa’s term and requested that the Parliament pass legislation regarding the reappointment of service chiefs.
The extension of service chiefs’ terms of office will be at the discretion of the prime minister, according to legislation passed by Parliament in January 2020. General Bajwa received a three-year extension as a result.
Run for COAS: Who would be the king?
There is a specific provision in the law that sets the retirement age for service chiefs at 64 years old.
General Bajwa is eligible for another three-year extension under this provision because he is still 61 years old. General Bajwa could remain COAS until November 2025 if this occurs.
However, according to media reports citing anonymous military sources, General Bajwa will not seek a second term extension and will retire in November.
In addition, DG ISPR, Major General Babar Iftikhar, stated unequivocally during a press briefing that General Bajwa has no intention of seeking another extension and will retire on November 29, 2022.
