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Come October 1, one of the most powerful positions in Pakistan's military hierarchy will fall vacant.
As the countdown to Lieutenant-General Zahir-ul-Islam's retirement as the director general of Pakistan's notorious Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) begins, the power corridors of the nation are resonating with whispers about his possible successor.
Considered the powerful Army's second most important official after the chief, the ISI director general is appointed by the prime minister on the advice of the chief of Army staff.
Four other lieutenant-generals in the Pakistan Army will retire the same day as Islam. All these officials hold important positions in the Army, but the ISI vacancy evidently poses the most formidable challenge for the leadership of a country plagued by a history of distrust between the civil government and military.
That apart, the intelligence chief is also crucial to the terror-ravaged nation's struggle against militants operating from the country's tribal areas.
The appointment will be watched closely in New Delhi as well as the ISI director-general is known to play a key role in advising the military on foreign policy issues.
According to sources, the incumbent ISI chief was instrumental in formulating Pakistan's response during tensions with India last year over the killing of Indian soldiers along the Line of Control (see accompanying story). Islam's predecessor, Lt-Gen Ahmad Shuja Pasha (retired) , was notorious for meddling in domestic politics and foreign policy issues.
Sources told BBC Urdu that Army chief General Raheel Sharif wants to first promote certain personnel from the rank of major-general to lieutenant general and then pick a ISI chief from among the lot.
Nawaz Sharif, who was ousted as PM in his last stint by a handpicked army chief, will reportedly be making the final appointment after appraising the candidates on their loyalty to him.
There is little clarity about Islam's possible successor.
Speculation in power corridors has, however, thrown up names of four generals who could be in the fray.
Lahore Corps commander Lt-Gen. Naveed Zaman has been touted as the frontrunner, with National Defence University president Lt-Gen. Javed Iqbal Ramday, Maj-Gen. Nazeer Butt and Maj-Gen. Rizwan Akhtar rounding out the list. Ramday had played a key role in guiding the anti-Taliban operation in the Swat Valley while Akhtar currently heads the Sindh wing of the Pakistan Rangers.
Rattled by the deadly floods that hit the country this month and an over month-long demonstration led by PTI chief Imran Khan and PAT president-cum-cleric Tahir-ul- Qadri in the heart of Islamabad, Prime Minister Sharif is yet to take up the next ISI chief 's appointment in earnest.
Quoting a close aide of Sharif, Pakistani daily Dawn reported this week that the premier and the army chief have not discussed the matter as yet.
Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif (right) will make the final appointment in consultation with Army chief General Raheel Sharif
However, the paper added that General Sharif is expected to meet the prime minister in connection with the appointment and that he would call on Sharif before picking the new lieutenant generals.
Sources say that with the appointment of the new lieutenant generals, General Sharif is looking to tighten his grip on the Army by picking loyal cohorts.
WHY THE CHOICE MATTERS FOR INDIA
Former ISI chief Shuja Pasha was known for meddling in politics and foreign policy
By Rezaul Hasan Laskar
Irrespective of the choice made by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the general selected by him to head the Inter-Services Intelligence will play a key role in shaping Pakistan's foreign policy for key countries like India and the US.
After all, the director general of the ISI is often hand-picked by the Pakistan Army chief and is an important advisor to the military on foreign policy issues.
Though the ISI chief works under the prime minister and is supposed to report to him, the Army chief is the spymaster's real boss.
According to Pakistani media reports, the prime minister has been considering Lahore Corps commander Lt-Gen. Naveed Zaman and National Defence University head Lt-Gen Javed Iqbal Ramday, while the names doing the rounds in military circles are Maj-Gen. Nazeer Butt and Maj-Gen.
Rizwan Akhtar. Ramday had played a key role in guiding the anti-Taliban operation in the Swat Valley some years ago while Akhtar currently heads the Sindh wing of the Pakistan Rangers.
According to sources, current ISI chief Lt-Gen. Zahir-ul-Islam, who is set to retire on October 1, was closely involved in fashioning Pakistan's response during tensions with India last year over the brutal killing of several Indian soldiers along the Line of Control. Islam's predecessor, Lt-Gen.
Ahmad Shuja Pasha (Retired), was known for meddling both in domestic politics and foreign policy issues.
It was Pasha who told journalists during an off-the-record briefing soon after the 2008 Mumbai attacks that the Taliban would fight side by side with Pakistani troops in the event of any hostilities with India.
It was again Pasha who made an abortive attempt to initiate direct talks with India's Research and Analysis Wing before being rebuffed.
According to Pakistani politicians, it was Pasha who cooked up the 'Memogate' controversy with Pakistan-American businessman Mansoor Ijaz that resulted in Husain Haqqani's resignation as Pakistan's ambassador to the US.
Sources in Islamabad said Prime Minister Sharif would be looking to select an ISI chief who would not add to the existing strains between the military and civilian government, which has been hit by the protests led by opposition leaders Tahir-ul-Qadri and Imran Khan.
Many in the political establishment believe Qadri and Khan have been acting at the behest of the Army.
On the other hand, Army chief General Raheel Sharif, who was chosen by the prime minister because he was considered to be apolitical, will be looking at factors like experience in intelligence operations and political inclinations when he recommends a panel of generals for the post of ISI chief.
Also of interest to India will be the general chosen by the Army to head the Gujranwala Corps, the main strike unit of the Pakistan Army along the border with India.
The current commander, Lt-Gen. Saleem Nawaz, is set to retire on October 1.
Pakistan looks for its next spymaster as ISI chief Zahir-ul-Islam gets set to retire | Daily Mail Online
