ISLAMABAD: Just a day before Eidul Fitr, four major generals, including DG Military Operations (DGMO) Maj. Gen. Ashfaq Nadeem Ahmed, have been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General and there would be a reshuffle in the army after the Eid.
The ISPR announced on Thursday that DGMO Maj. Gen. Ashfaq Nadeem Ahmed, Commandant Air Defence Maj. Gen. Zamirul Hassan Shah, Commandant Infantry School, Quetta Maj. Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa and Maj. Gen. Javed Iqbal of National Defence University were promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General.
Informed circles say some of them would be adjusted against the positions already vacant or to be vacant in the coming weeks.
Corps Commander Rawalpindi Lt. Gen. Khalid Nawaz would be retiring on August 13, while the post of Inspector General Arms has been lying vacant since Lt. Gen. Salim Nawaz moved to Gujranwala as Corps Commander. By end-September this year, Commander Southern Command Lt. Gen. Alam Khattak would also be retiring.
It has been learnt that DG Military Operations Maj. Gen. Nadeem, who talked to his Indian counterpart on the LoC firing incidents on Wednesday probably for the last time, would be shifted to either Peshawar or Rawalpindi as Corps Commander.
The incumbent Commandant Air Defence Maj. Gen. Zamirul Hassan Shah would continue to serve in the same position even after his promotion. In case Nadeem is appointed Corps Commander Peshawar, the present Corps Commander Lt. Gen. Khalid Rabbani would be shifted to either Rawalpindi or to the GHQ.
Lt. Gen. Ashfaq Nadeem Ahmed had the experience of serving in Swat with great success before he was appointed DG Military Operations.
Both Maj. Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa and Maj. Gen. Javed Iqbal, who was hit by a bullet during his posting to the tribal areas, would be shifted to either corps or to be appointed as PSO at the GHQ.
If Maj. Gen. Nadeem is shifted to Peshawar as corps commander, he would likely be replaced with GOC Lahore Maj. Gen. Amir, who seems to be the most capable general for the job according to military sources.
There are bright chances for Adjutant General Lt. Gen. Javed of becoming corps commander any time during this month in the ensuing reshuffle.
During the process of promotion of four major generals, three major generals — Farrukh Ahmed, Changhez and Noel Israel — have been superseded and they stand no chance of promotion as lieutenant general in future. Many say the promotion was an Eid gift on just a day before Eidul Fitr today.
