LAHORE – Lieutenant General Muhammad Asim Malik has been appointed as the Director General Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) has announced.
The new spymaster will take charge on September 30, replacing outgoing DG ISI Lt Gen Nadeem Anjum, whose extended tenure is set end this month.
Lt Gen Anjum’s term ended last year but it was extended for another year keeping in view the political uncertainty in the country.
Unverified reports also suggest that Lt Gen Anjum, who is also the first ever ISI chief in Pakistan to appear on media in a press conference to announced depoliticisation of the department, was given extension as he had the support of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).
However, latest development has confirmed the departure of Lt Gen Nadeem Anjum as ISI chief as he will be replaced by Lt Gen Asim Malik, who will be the first PhD-hold to assume this position.
Connection between Lt Gen Asim Malik and Faiz Hameed
Lieutenant General Muhammad Asim Malik is currently serving as an Adjutant General at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi. The Adjutant General is the senior most administrator and legal officer of army.
The Judge Advocate General (JAG) Branch, which deals legal matters such as court martials, also works under the Adjutant General.
It is recalled that former ISI chief Faiz Hameed has also as the Adjutant General at GHQ. Currently, he is facing court-martial proceedings under the same department.
Who is Lt Gen Asim Malik?
Lt Gen Asim Malik hailed from a military family as his father, Ghulam Muhammad, also known as General GM, who served as the Corps Commander in Rawalpindi.
The newly-appointed spymaster has previously commanded the Infantry Division in Balochistan and the Infantry Brigade in Waziristan.
He has also received a Sword of Honor in his course and served as the chief instructor at National Defense University (NDU), as well as an instructor at Command and Staff College Quetta.
Lieutenant General Asim Malik is a graduate of Fort Leavenworth and Royal College of Defence Studies.
Lt Gen Malik held key operational roles, including in the Directorate of Military Operations M.O.
Spymaster position is coveted position as ISI chief is appointed by the Prime Minister on the recommendation of the Army Chief, typically from most senior officers.
From the last 5 decades, the position of spy agency ISI is traditionally held by three-star general.
