Maj General Bajwa named Pak military's chief spokesman

Islamabad, Apr 28: Maj Gen Asim Saleem Bajwa, a former commander of the 111 Brigade that has played a key role in past military coups, has been named the Pakistani military's new chief spokesman.

Bajwa will take over as Director General of the Inter-Services Public Relations when Maj Gen Athar Abbas retires in June, media reports said.

Bajwa was moved by army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani to the media arm after a stint as a commander at Wana in the insurgency-hit tribal belt.

While serving as former army chief Pervez Musharraf's staff officer, Bajwa assisted the military ruler in writing his book "In The Line of Fire."

Bajwa was commissioned in March 1984 in the Punjab Regiment and has commanded 34 Punjab Regiment and 111 Brigade.

His appointment as chief military spokesman was part of a reshuffle of several two-star Generals in the Pakistan army.

Maj Gen Mazhar Jameel of the Pakistan Military Academy was appointed Vice Chief of General Staff while Maj Gen Sadiq Ali of the Armoured Division was appointed Commandant of the PMA.

Maj Gen Nadir Zeb, chief of the Frontier Corps, was appointed the Director General of Human Resource Development while Maj Gen Asif Khattak was moved from the ISI in Quetta to Log Area in Gujranwala.

Maj Gen Ghayyar Mehmood was named the new chief of the Frontier Corps.

Maj Gen Farukh Bashir, General Officer Commanding of SSGC, was appointed head of the Defence Security Guards while Maj Gen Hidayatur Rehman was appointed GOC of 14 Division.

Maj Gen Obaid Zikria was appointed Commandant of the EME College and Maj Gen Tariq Jawaid was named Vice Chief of Logistic Stocks.

A second reshuffle, including the promotion of four Major Generals to the rank of Lieutenant General, is expected to take place next week.

PTI