Change of DG ISI while Chairman NAB continues. Gen Anjum will replace Lt Gen Faiz Hameed, who has been posted out as Commander of Peshawar-based Corps XI. The appointment of the new ISI director general comes after days of intense speculation about the change at the country’s premier intelligence service. It is believed that the matter had been under consideration for some time, but was announced after the corps commanders meeting held on Tuesday. Chief of the Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa later met Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday for a final formal consultation on the new pick.
The appointment of ISI director general is a prerogative of the prime minister. The spymaster’s choice is, however, made by the prime minister in consultation with the army chief and this appointment was to be announced by PM Imran Khan office but DG ISPR made it public.
While nominating Gen Anjum, the army chief possibly relied on his wide-ranging experience in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces and Karachi. His previous assignments gave him a good handle on both internal security challenges and external environment. Gen Anjum commanded a brigade in Kurram Agency, led Frontier Corps (North) in Balochistan and remained commandant of Command and Staff College Quetta before becoming corps commander Karachi in December 2020.
The timing of the change at the ISI, however, took many by surprise. It was generally believed that Gen Hameed would hold the position till April next year though he had completed his two-year tenure. Gen Hameed’s tenure was blemished by controversies both internal and external, which often kept the ISI under media spotlight. He had entered the office with the same perception about his personality, which dated back to his days at the ISI as head of internal security.
A few are looking at the change from the angle of the upcoming race for the next army chief in 2022. Gen Hameed, who would be one of the contenders, was yet to command a corps. Therefore, it is thought that he has been moved to a corps to meet that requirement for the four-star position. Gen Hameed’s new place of posting "Peshawar" would, moreover, keep him relevant to the developments in Afghanistan. During his over two years’ tenure, he remained closely associated with Pakistani efforts for peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan. Gen Hameed’s visit to Kabul on September 4, 2021 weeks after the Taliban takeover, had led to renewed allegations about Pakistan’s involvement in Afghanistan’s internal affairs. People came to know about his trip after he was spotted having tea with Pakistani envoy at a Kabul hotel where many foreign journalists were staying. Gen Hameed also responded to a journalist’s question about future of Afghanistan, saying: “Don’t worry, everything will be okay.”
The NAB ordinance paved the way for the present chairman Justice (R) Javed Iqbal to continue to perform as head of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) till the federal government develops consensus for his replacement. The new ordinance, President Dr Arif Aliv promulgated yesterday, also provides the outgoing NAB chief an opportunity to get another four-year term for the office of NAB Chairman. A 20-page newly-proposed ordinance, shared by the Ministry of Law, read, "provided that on expiry of the period of four years, the incumbent chairman may be appointed for another period of four years by the President [Arif Alvi] in the same manner as provided for appointment in clauses (i) and (ii) of sub-section (b). Provided further that till the assumption of charge by the Chairman appointed under this section, the outgoing Chairman shall continue to act, exercise authority and perform functions as the Chairman and shall have all powers vested in the Chairman under the Ordinance."
Justice Javed Iqbal is going to complete his four-year term tomorrow (Oct 8, 2021). The government ordinance which made amendments in many sections of NAB law, the most important reads, "there shall be a Chairman, National Accountability Bureau to be appointed by the President in consultation with the Leader of the House and the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly."
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