Musharraf appoints new military spy chief
Saturday, 22 September 2007
Farhan Bokhari, FT Syndication Service
ISLAMABAD: General Pervez Musharraf on Friday appointed a new spy chief and made a number of other key military appointments in an apparent move by the Pakistani president to retain his influence even after he steps down as head of the army.
This year's round of promotions has been keenly anticipated as General Musharraf is going through his weakest phase since coming to power in a coup eight years ago.
A nine-member panel of Supreme Court judges is reviewing six petitions seeking the disqualification of the US-backed general from contesting the presidential election on grounds including his dual position as head of the army and ruler of Pakistan, and the legality of being elected in uniform.
Earlier this week a senior ruling party official said General Pervez Musharraf would retire as army chief by mid-November irrespective of the outcome of his quest for re-election as Pakistan's president.
General Musharraf's position has been weakened considerably since July when the Supreme Court restored Iftikhar Chaudhary, the chief justice, more than four months after he was suspended by Gen Musharraf on vague charges of misconduct.
On Friday Major General Nadeem Taj was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General and appointed the new head of the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) spy agency.
General Taj served as General Musharraf's military secretary at the time of the coup that brought him to power in October 1999. The ISI is widely known for its responsibilities ranging from internal and external espionage to an oversight of domestic political affairs.
The change at the ISI strengthened speculation that Lieutenant General Pervez Ashfaq Kiyani, the former head of the ISI, may be considered for promotion as full General and appointed either as chairman of the joint chiefs of staff committee of the armed forces or chief of army staff.
General Kiyani is recently reported to have negotiated a new power sharing agreement on General Musharraf's behalf with opposition leader Benazir Bhutto.
In another important move, Lieutenant General Tariq Majeed, commander of the military's tenth corps was replaced by newly promoted Lieutenant General Mohsin Kamal.
In 1999, as a Major General based in Lahore, General Majeed ordered his troops to seize the family estate of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif.
Lieutenant General (retired) Talat Masood, a former military commander and respected analyst said the two officers [General Kiyani and General Majeed] are reputed to be pro-western who will continue to support "Pakistan's contribution to the war on terror".
Analysts said, the new commanders will immediately face the challenge of lifting morale among troops especially with continuing controversy surrounding last month's kidnapping of 240 soldiers by Taliban militants in the region bordering Afghanistan. Efforts for getting them released peacefully so far appear to have failed.
ISLAMABAD: General Pervez Musharraf on Friday appointed a new spy chief and made a number of other key military appointments in an apparent move by the Pakistani president to retain his influence even after he steps down as head of the army.
This year's round of promotions has been keenly anticipated as General Musharraf is going through his weakest phase since coming to power in a coup eight years ago.
A nine-member panel of Supreme Court judges is reviewing six petitions seeking the disqualification of the US-backed general from contesting the presidential election on grounds including his dual position as head of the army and ruler of Pakistan, and the legality of being elected in uniform.
Earlier this week a senior ruling party official said General Pervez Musharraf would retire as army chief by mid-November irrespective of the outcome of his quest for re-election as Pakistan's president.
General Musharraf's position has been weakened considerably since July when the Supreme Court restored Iftikhar Chaudhary, the chief justice, more than four months after he was suspended by Gen Musharraf on vague charges of misconduct.
On Friday Major General Nadeem Taj was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General and appointed the new head of the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) spy agency.
General Taj served as General Musharraf's military secretary at the time of the coup that brought him to power in October 1999. The ISI is widely known for its responsibilities ranging from internal and external espionage to an oversight of domestic political affairs.
The change at the ISI strengthened speculation that Lieutenant General Pervez Ashfaq Kiyani, the former head of the ISI, may be considered for promotion as full General and appointed either as chairman of the joint chiefs of staff committee of the armed forces or chief of army staff.
General Kiyani is recently reported to have negotiated a new power sharing agreement on General Musharraf's behalf with opposition leader Benazir Bhutto.
In another important move, Lieutenant General Tariq Majeed, commander of the military's tenth corps was replaced by newly promoted Lieutenant General Mohsin Kamal.
In 1999, as a Major General based in Lahore, General Majeed ordered his troops to seize the family estate of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif.
Lieutenant General (retired) Talat Masood, a former military commander and respected analyst said the two officers [General Kiyani and General Majeed] are reputed to be pro-western who will continue to support "Pakistan's contribution to the war on terror".
Analysts said, the new commanders will immediately face the challenge of lifting morale among troops especially with continuing controversy surrounding last month's kidnapping of 240 soldiers by Taliban militants in the region bordering Afghanistan. Efforts for getting them released peacefully so far appear to have failed.