A Post India’ surgical strike, Pakistan is seriously trying to change the perception of the international community about the country. And in such an effort, the civilian government is making changes in the military and intelligence agency outfits.
According to reports, Chief of Pakistan’s powerful spy agency Inter- Services Intelligence (ISI) Lt Gen Rizwan Akhtar is expected to be replaced within the next few weeks.
Looking at the current scenario, it is not wrong to say that Pakistan is feeling the serious international isolation. However, as usual, it is in denial mode but some of the leaders have accepted the fact and Civilian Government in Pakistan is looking for changes in its stand on terrorism.
Current ISI Chief Rizwan Akhtar had replaced the retiring Lt Gen Zaheer-ul-Islam as the director general in September 2014 and took office in November 2014.
Tenure of Rizwan Akhtar
A director general has a tenure of three years unless he retires or is replaced by another army chief.
According to The Nation, preparations were underway to change the command. “Intriguingly, he may be leaving the position earlier than the typical three-year tenure of an ISI DG,” the report said.
Possible Replacement to Rizwan Akhtar
Akhtar is expected to be replaced by corps commander of Karachi, Lt Gen Naveed Mukhtar, sources said.
Another senior security official was quoted as saying that Akhtar has already served in Karachi as Director General, Sindh Rangers — knows the challenges in Karachi and “the swapping makes sense”.
Questions are rising over the timing of the switch
According to an official, “It depends on whether the army chief, Gen Raheel Sharif, gets an extension or retires as announced. I don’t think the notification of other changes in military command will come before that,” he said. “There are a lot of variables involved.”
Raheel had announced earlier this year that he is not seeking an extension and would retire in November.
However, Chief Military Spokesperson has denied any such replacement
Lt Gen Asim Bajwa, the chief military spokesman, however, denied that the intelligence chief was being replaced. “No such thing,” Bajwa said when asked about it. Even the paper did not cite any reason behind the replacement.
