Director General (DG) Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lt Gen Nadeen Anjum has asked all authorities concerned not to release to the media his picture or video footage made during an official meeting, reports Ansar Abbasi for The News.
A minister on condition of anonymity revealed to the news outlet that the National Security Committee (NCC) met on Monday. The meeting was also attended by the DG ISI. However, the picture and video footage, released to the media by the government, showed almost everyone else except for the top spymaster of the country.
When asked for the reason, the minister said it’s a standing instruction for all concerned from the incumbent DG ISI not to release any of his pictures or video footage of any official meeting that he attends.
The minister added that for the same reason, ever since his appointment as the DG ISI, none of his picture or video footage has been released to the media. Lt-Gen (retd) Amjad Shoaib, while commenting on it, said the basic principle of intelligence services is to stay away from the media’s eye.
He said there have been violations of the principle in the past and a number of times the governments had been releasing to the media picture and video footage of the intelligence chiefs.
Gen Shoaib said the intelligence chiefs should not be shown on the media and TV screens. Generally, he explained, the spymasters are not recognised in the public all over the world for the same reason.
Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan issued a notification on October 26 for the appointment of a new director-general (DG) of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency. Lt Gen Nadeem Ahmed Anjum has been appointed as the new DG ISI and will take charge on November 20.
Notification for the appointment of the General Officers
Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa called on Prime Minister Imran Khan today.
The meeting was part of the ongoing consultation process between the premier and army chief about the timing of change of command in ISI and selection of the new DG ISI.
Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa called on Prime Minister @ImranKhanPTI today.
The meeting was part of the ongoing consultation process between the Prime Minister and Chief of Army Staff about the timing of change of command in ISI and selection of the new DG ISI.
During this process, a list of officers was received from the Ministry of Defence. Prime Minister interviewed all the nominees. A final round of consultation was held between the Prime Minister and Chief of Army Staff today.
After this detailed consultative process, the name of Lt Gen Nadeem Anjum was approved as the new DG ISI.
The designated DG ISI shall assume charge on November 20.
October 12: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry on Tuesday confirmed the meeting between PM Khan and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa, and said, “PM Khan is the authority in appointing the DG ISI,” further adding that “all legal methods will be adopted in the appointment of the new director-general”.
However, rumours started circulating that PM Khan wanted Lt Gen Faiz Hameed to continue serving as the spymaster for some time due to the critical situation in neighbouring Afghanistan.
October 14: PM Khan convened an emergency meeting of the ruling party’s parliamentary group at Parliament House. Journalists questioned PM Khan about the appointment of the DG ISI. PM Khan did not answer the questions but laughed in response.
Prior to this, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-chairperson and former President Asif Ali Zardari, made an appearance before an accountability court in Islamabad today, where journalists questioned him about the appointment of DG ISI and he responded with laughter as well.
October 15: Fawad told the media that the notification regarding the appointment of the new DG ISI would be issued in two to three days.
News started circulating that PM Khan would take interviews of the potential candidates for the appointment of the new DG ISI and that a new summary with names of candidates for the position of ISI chief had been sent to the Prime Minister. Fawad denied the news and said, “Prime Minister Imran Khan will just meet all candidates (for the slot of DG ISI).”
October 19: Fawad said, “All the matters have been resolved” and announced that the notification of the new DG ISI would be issued this week.
“It [Opposition] is thinking that there are some differences between the government and security institutions but its euphoria is gradually fading,” said Fawad.
“I think the prime minister is offended by this. A popular leader or hero is accustomed to having ‘yes’ said to them. They cannot take ‘no’ for an answer. Our brothers in Rawalpindi [establishment] need to share the blame here. You [establishment] have made a child used to the [yes culture] in [the past] three years,” said Klasra, alluding to PM Khan.
عمران خان کو ہر چیز مینج کر کے دی گئی ۔۔۔رؤف کلاسرا
— Breaking Barriers With Malick (@ViewsWithMalick) October 14, 2021
“You [establishment] made the child habitual of hearing a ‘yes’, now you have said ‘no this cannot happen’, eventually the child will react,” added Klasra.
Klasra further said, “You [establishment] have always done fire fighting for PM Khan, managed everything for him, you did not let Khan Saab get hurt by a mere thorn. You [establishment] managed the media and the media owners [for him], you [establishment] managed anchors and politicians [for him] as well. You [establishment] managed Opposition, Parliament and Senate too, name anything [and you (establishment) managed that for him].”
Klasra went on to reveal that the establishment even helped the premier in taking down two tweets of journalists. After this statement, anchorperson Mohammad Malick interjected and said that “allegedly two tweets were asked to bring down, let’s keep it safe .”
“You [establishment] have managed so much for the premier and now if he has asked for something, he hasn’t asked for the moon, he only asked for six months extension of his favourite Lieutenant General (Lt Gen) Faiz Hameed’s tenure,” said Klasra.
Klasra said that the reason for this demand of the premier wanting Lt Gen Faiz Hameed to stay as the DG ISI was for his work in Afghanistan. Adding that as per his sources, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa has explained to PM Khan that “ISI is an institution, and it handles matters in Afghanistan, India, America as an institution and not on the basis of an individual. Nothing will get affected by the appointment of the new director-general. The new appointee will get the support of the institution and the situation in Afghanistan shall be handled.”
The army has always handled regional security issues, not the prime minister, said Klasra. “In my opinion, PM Khan needed Lt Gen Faiz Hameed for his personal and political issues,” said Klasra, and Malick once again interjected and said “Allegedly”.
Lieutenant (Lt) General Nadeem Ahmed Anjum has been appointed as the director-general of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), the post previously held by Lt Gen Faiz Hameed.
Lt Gen Anjum was previously the commander of Karachi Corps. He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant general in September 2019, reports Dawn.
Hailing from the Pakistan Military Academy’s (PMA) 78th Long Course and the Punjab Regiment, Lt Gen Anjum has also served as the commandant of the Command and Staff College, Quetta.
The new DG ISI has also previously remained the inspector general of the Balochistan Frontier Corps (North) and commanded a brigade in Kurram Agency, Hangu.
A graduate of UK’s Royal College of Defence Studies, Lt Gen Anjum also holds a degree from the Asia-Pacific Centre for Security Studies, Honolulu.
Lt Gen Anjum is a native of Mohra Sheikhan, Kontrilla, in Rawalpindi district’s Gujjar Khan.
