No extension to Pasha, Lt Gen. Zaheerul Islam appointed new DG ISI

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has appointed Corp Commander Karachi, Lt. General Zaheerul Islam as the DG ISI.

Islam will succeed Lt. General Shuja Pasha whose tenure expires on March 18.

The appointment of Lt. General Zaheerul Islam puts to rest rumours regarding whether Pasha's tenure would be extended.

According to sources DG Rangers Sindh Lt. General Ijaz Chaudhry will succeed Zaheerul Islam as Corps Commander Karachi.

Major General Rizwan Akhter will assume charge as DG Rangers Sindh.

He has earlier served as the deputy director general of the ISI as a major general. He was then promoted to the rank of lieutenant general and moved to Karachi.

Lieutenant General Zaheerul Islam is the 18th Director General of the ISI since 1959, the year when this premier spy agency was first headed by Brigadier Riaz Hussain.

Interestingly, only one ISI boss--- Lt Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani-has gone on to become the Chief of the Army Staff during the last 53 years.

The 17 Pakistan Army officials, who have till date headed the ISI, are:

Brig Riaz Hussain (1959 to 1966), Major General (then Brig) Mohammad Akbar Khan (1966 to 1971), Lt General (then Major Gen) Ghulam Jilani Khan (1971 to 1978), Lt General Muhammad Riaz (1978 to 1980), Lt General Akhtar Abdur Rahman (1980 to 1987), Lt General Hamid Gul (1987 to 1989), Lt General (retd) Shamsur Rahman Kallu (1989 to 1990), Lt General Asad Durrani (1990 to 1992), Lt General Javed Nasir (1992 to May 1993), Lt General Javed Ashraf Qazi (1993 to 1995), Lt General (then Maj Gen) Nasim Rana (1995 to 1998), Lt General Ziauddin Butt (1998 to 1999), Lt General Mahmud Ahmed (October 1999 to 2001), Lt General Ehsan ul Haq (2001 to 2004), Lt General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani (October 2004 to October 2007), Lt General Nadeem Taj (2007 to 2008 and Lt. General Ahmed Shuja Pasha (since September 2008).