Pakistan likely to remove army chief Asim Munir, to appoint Sahir Shamshad Mirza
New Delhi: Amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, the Shehbaz Sharif government is likely to replace its amry chief Asim Munir with Sahir Shamshad Mirza. Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir comes from a modest upbringing. His father was a school principal, a mujahir who came to Rawalpindi from Jalandhar in 1947 and also served as a mosque imam.
Munir went to Markazi Madrasah Dar-ul-Tajweed, an Islamic seminary in Rawalpindi for his early education indicating that Munir was raised in a deeply religious environment. Then completed his graduation from Pakistan Military Academy in Abbottabad and first got commissioned to 23rd Battalion of the Frontier Force Regiment. Ramanathan Kumar, who headed the Pakistan desk at R&AW from 2015 to 2020, told The Indian Express that General Munir is Pakistan’s first ‘mullah general.’
While serving as a military attaché in Saudi Arabia, Munir memorized the Quran, earning the title Hafiz-e-Koran. As Army chief, he often incorporates Quranic verses and Islamic theology into his speeches, effortlessly switching between English, Urdu, and classical Arabic.
What further complicates the picture is Munir’s turbulent career. His rise through the ranks reportedly involved several run-ins with political leaders, leading some to believe he may feel sidelined within Pakistan’s power structure.
