Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Wednesday congratulated the new Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir and Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) General Sahir Shamshad Mirza. Giving said he hoped the “current situation of trust deficit” ends with the new military appointments.
Expressing his views in a tweet, the former prime minister said, “Congratulations to General Sahir Shamshad Mirza as new CJCSC and General Syed Asim Munir as new COAS”.
“We hope that the new military leadership will work to bridge the current trust deficit that has developed between the nation and the state in the last eight months. The PTI chief added that the power of the state rests with its people. Obtained from
Along with the tweet, Imran also shared a quote from Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, which said, “Armed forces are the servants of the people and you do not make national policy, we common citizens make this decision.” problems”.
Congratulations to Gen Sahir Shamshad Mirza as new CJCSC & Gen Syed Asim Munir as new COAS. We hope new mly ldrship will work to end prevailing trust deficit that has built up in last 8 months between the nation and the State. Strength of the State is derived from its people. pic.twitter.com/5k4fVA2UGb
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) November 30, 2022
The ousted prime minister’s comments came a day after General Asim assumed charge as Pakistan’s 17th Army Chief at a ceremony held at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi.
Earlier this week, Jay Sahir also assumed his appointment as CJCSC at the Joint Staff Headquarters in Rawalpindi.
Challenges for the new chief
The change of command in the army comes at a time when the country is facing several challenges, including a deepening political crisis, resurgence of militancy. However, for General Asim, many observers believe, the single biggest challenge is to restore the public image of the security establishment.
During General Bajwa’s extended six-year tenure, the army faced criticism first from the PML-N, when it was in opposition, and now from the party of former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
General Asim is among the officers who strongly advocated the neutrality of the army at a time when the state body was under increased scrutiny for its alleged meddling in politics.
The coalition government led by Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, who appointed General Asim as army chief, hoped that under his command the army would no longer play a role in politics.
