Major General Asif. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD: As part of the ongoing shakeup at key positions, the army has announced a host of new postings, including appointment of a new chief for the military’s media wing.
On Thursday, Major General Asif Ghafoor was appointed director general (DG) of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). The post had fallen vacant after ISPR’s former DG, Lt Gen Asim Salim Bajwa, was transferred to the General Headquarters (GHQ) and appointed as the Inspector General Arms.
The ISPR’s incoming DG, who is presently commanding a division in Swat, has a vast experience of operations and has commanded a unit during the Operation Almizan in 2002-2006.
He also served in military operations directorate and remained involved in the finalisation of the National Action Plan (NAP) against terrorism, said security sources.
The military’s media wing has in recent years assumed a greater role, especially during General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and General Raheel Sharif’s tenures.
In the past, a two-star general headed the ISPR but under General Raheel Sharif the media wing was given under the supervision of a three-star general for the first time. It is, however, not clear if the current army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa will follow in the footsteps of his predecessor and rely on an aggressive media campaign.
According to a statement issued by the ISPR on Thursday, Major General Abdullah Dogar has also been posted as the Pakistan Military Academy (PMA) Kakul’s commandant, while Major General Syed Adnan has been posted as General Officer Commanding (GOC) in Lahore.
Major General Fida Malik has been appointed as Director General Logistics at the GHQ while Major General Zafarullah Khan has been named as the GOC at Panu Aqil. Major General Nadir Khan was chosen as DG Personnel Services and Provost Marshal (PS&PM) at the GHQ, whereas Major General Zafar Iqbal was posted as the GOC Armour Division in Gujranwala.
Military officials said more transfers and postings were expected in the coming days.
Since the appointment of the army chief, the army has gone through major reshuffles with appointments of five new corps commanders and chief of general staff (CJS) as well as the head of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
The move is seen as effort by General Bajwa to have his own team in place as soon as possible to pursue his strategy that may be different from his predecessor.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 16th, 2016.
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