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Pakistan News: Lieutenant General Muhammad Asim Malik has been appointed as the new chief of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), according to an announcement made by the Inter-Service Public Relations (ISPR) on Monday. He will replace the current ISI Director General, Lieutenant General Nadeem Anjum, and officially assume his new role on September 30.
Lt Gen Malik, currently serving as the Adjutant General at the General Headquarters (GHQ), has previously served as the commander of the Balochistan infantry division and the infantry brigade in Waziristan, Geo News reported. He has also held the position of Chief Instructor at the National Defence University (NDU) and as an instructor at the Command and Staff College in Quetta.
His academic credentials include graduation from Fort Leavenworth in the United States and the Royal College of Defence Studies in London. He has also been awarded the prestigious Sword of Honour in his course.
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ISI Chief’s Role
The position of the ISI Director General is one of the most influential in Pakistan, straddling the spheres of domestic politics, military authority, and foreign relations. Although the ISI chief is technically accountable to the Pakistan Prime Minister, in practice, he operates under the influence of Pakistan’s army chief.
The appointment comes at a time when the political role of the ISI has faced increased scrutiny. This comes after former ISI chief Faiz Hameed was recently arrested under the army laws for allegedly misusing his authority.
News agency Reuters’ report claimed that the former ISI chief was arrested for supporting the political cause of imprisoned former PM Imran Khan. Khan has alleged that the intelligence agency, under the outgoing chief Lt Gen Anjum, has been used against him.
Senior Pakistan Judges Allege Pressure From ISI To Rule Against Imran Khan
In April, six senior judges reportedly accused ISI agents of pressuring them to rule against Imran Khan. The allegations were made in a letter to Pakistan’s Chief Justice and published in local media. The letter from judges alleged the abduction of family members, torture, installation of cameras in their bedrooms, and threats, The Guardian reported.
However, ISI officials have rejected the claims. “The accusations made by the honourable judges of IHC are frivolous in nature and out of context. The cases against the former prime minister Imran Khan are purely legal and have nothing to do with law enforcement agencies,” an official said, as quoted by The Guardian.
A notable standoff between Khan and the military over the appointment of the ISI chief in 2021 is believed to have contributed to the eventual breakdown in relations between Khan and the top generals before his ouster from office months later.
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