Chief of the Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani along with Lt
Gen Sajjad Ghani. PHOTO: ISPR
Weeks before the imminent change of the army’s top leadership, a reshuffle was ordered in the country’s corps commanders and at the GHQ on Tuesday.
Quartermaster General Lt Gen Sajjad Ghani has been appointed the new Karachi corps commander, replacing Lt Gen Muhammad Ijaz Chaudhry. The latter, meanwhile, now holds the position of Inspector-General Arms at the GHQ. Lt Gen Najib Ahmed stepped into the boots of Lt Gen Ghani as Quartermaster General.
The Formation Commanders’ Conference will be held at the GHQ today (Wednesday), which will be presided over by army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. Officials say that if Gen Kayani does retire as per schedule – he has formally announced that he does not intend on getting an extension – this would mark his last Formation Commanders’ Conference as army chief.
Interestingly, diplomatic and political circles are divided on the significance of the reshuffle. Many defence analysts believe that these changes are an important development, claiming that the transfers are neither routine nor ordinary, especially when General Kayani has given an official statement of retiring on November 28 this year.
However, as the appointment of the chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee will be announced next week, some military officials claim that these changes are routine and timely.
Lt Gen Sajjad Ghani had been Quartermaster General for a long time and he had not yet commanded a corps, which is why he was appointed corps commander Karachi, explained an official.
The position of Inspector General Arms had been vacant for some time, and so Lt Gen Muhammad Ijaz Chaudhry, now former corps commander Karachi, was given that position. Although these appointments seem mundane, these changes in the military brass cannot be interpreted as scheduled changes given the timing of the announcement.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 20th, 2013.
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lt. gen sajjad ghani i personaly knows that he is a very very big honest person i love him his personalty,now the karachi is going up INSHALLAH
Sajjad Ghani is a decent and honest officer. I am sure he will be good for Karachi and Pakistan. I hope he becomes COAS but that may be difficult he being an Engineer officer.
@shahrukhkhan: So you feel something fishy fishy. Me too. 29 is not that far let us see.
This is a premature ejection of Gen Ijaz as he has hardly completed an year as Crp. Commander. this shuffle means a lot. the real surprise would be if Kyani relay leave by next., which appears less likely particularly in the wake of High treason case, Nawaz can't afford to bring a COAS who has any less grudges with Musharraf than his predecessor.... If Nawaz was to bring a new COAS by next week he would never have gambled to initiated treason case at this juncture.
I hope we get a good commander who can get issues resolved which were not done in last 10 years
@Shahid: Is that the plot of your upcoming movie??
Good luck to new COAS. Their is a separatist movement in Balochistan, and from what rumors are circulating, a movement for the separation of urban Sindh will soon be launched next year............Pakistan will be fighting for it's existence in 2014.
People lets try speculating less and let everyone just do their work!
And he will quickly busy himself with the matters of running DHA.