PM to appoint new CNS as Zakaullah retires on Oct 7

Vice-admirals Zafar Abbasi, Arifullah Hussaini and Sohail Masood the top contenders

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi is likely to appoint the new Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) from among three vice-admirals – Zafar Mehmood Abbasi, Syed Arifullah Hussaini and Shah Sohail Masood – as the term of Admiral Muhammad Zakaullah, the serving CNS, is coming to an end on October 7.

Theoretically, naval chief’s appointment is notified by President on the advice of PM, but practically PM has the final say in the related appointments since his advice to president is binding.

All the three officers, whose names are being considered for the post of CNS, belong to the PN’s operations branch.



Zafar Mehmood Abbasi is the incumbent Chief of Staff at Naval Headquarters. Syed Arifullah Hussaini is Deputy Chief of Naval Staff (Projects) and Shah Sohail Masood is Commander Naval Strategic Force Command. He also served as spokesperson for the defence ministry a few years ago.

Official sources told The Express Tribune that the PM had decided to prefer seniority factor in line with the navy’s tradition, instead of resorting to a pick-and-choose policy.

PM’s Spokesman Musadik Malik was approached for his comments on the new naval chief’s appointment, but he opted to keep mum.

PM’s Adviser Ameer Muqam confirmed that the appointment of the new naval chief was under consideration, but he was clueless as to who would become the next navy boss. “Some names are under consideration but I have no idea who would get the coveted slot,” he said.

The sources said PM Abbasi has already consulted relevant circles in the armed forces and the security establishment for the promotion of Zafar Mehmood Abbasi, but has yet to approve a formal summary in this regard.

Recently, the defence ministry moved a summary to the PM Office on naval chief’s appointment which is seeking PM’s nod of approval. It would then be moved to the president for a final notification.

With the exception of the Pakistan Army, seniority factor is generally considered over appointment of services chiefs at PN and Pakistan Air Force.

In November last year, former PM Nawaz Sharif approved General Qamar Javed Bajwa’s appointment as army chief. He was third in the seniority list after Lt-Gen Ishfaq Nadeem and Lt-Gen Javed Iqbal Ramday. The services chiefs are appointed for three years.

Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman would retire in March next year.