General Syed Asim Munir has been appointed Pakistan's new chief of staff, a leading role in this Islamic republic of 220 million inhabitants equipped with nuclear weapons, the government announced on Thursday (November 24th).
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif appointed General Munir "
using his constitutional prerogative
", Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb announced on Twitter.
This appointment still has to be approved by President Arif Alvi, a member of the opposition PTI (Pakistan Justice Movement) party of former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Three military putsches
Currently Quartermaster General, in charge of supply and transport for the entire Pakistani army, General Munir replaces General Qamar Javed Bajwa, who is due to retire after serving as Chief of Staff. since November 2016.
Read alsoIn Pakistan, parliamentary democracy in danger
General Munir had also previously served as head of the all-powerful military intelligence service (ISI).
He was removed from this post in 2019 only eight months after his appointment, at the request of Imran Khan, then head of government, according to local media.
The Pakistani army exerts considerable influence on Pakistani political life.
She has been in power for almost half of the country's 75-year history, since independence in 1947.
Pakistan has experienced at least three successful military putsches and at least as many failed coup attempts.
Pakistan has been in turmoil since Shehbaz Sharif succeeded Imran Khan in April, overthrown in a no-confidence vote after losing support from the military, which was accused of helping bring him to power in 2018.
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