This Article is From Mar 09, 2012

Lieutenant General Zahirul Islam appointed new ISI chief

Lieutenant General Zahirul Islam appointed new ISI chief
Islamabad: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has appointed Lieutenant General Zaheer ul Islam, Corps Commander Karachi, as new Director General Inter Services Intelligence.

Incumbent Lieutenant General Ahmed Shuja Pasha will retire on March 18.

Reports suggest that General Pasha may be  to head the body that controls the Pakistan's nuclear arsenal after the end of his present assignment next month, according to a media report on Sunday.

The controversial ISI chief reached the age of retirement in 2010 and has been given two extensions. He is likely to be made the head of the Strategic Plans Division, which controls the nuclear arsenal. General Pasha has served as the director general of the ISI for three-and-half years. If Pasha is made the head of the Strategic Plans Division, he will replace Lt Gen (retired) Khalid Kidwai, who has led the organisation for over a decade.

Following General Pasha's alleged role in the scandal over a mysterious memo that had sought US help to prevent a possible military coup in Pakistan, it was reported he would not be given another extension.

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