PM all set to announce new PAF Chief

Islamabad – Prime Minister Imran Khan is expected to give a nod to the summary for the appointment of new Chief of Air Staff of Pakistan Air force.

The Defence Ministry has moved the summary to the Prime Minister Imran Khan for the appointment of a new air chief of Pakistan Air Force.

The outgoing Air chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan would retire from his service on18th March. The summary contains four names of senior most officers of Pakistan Air force, these include Air Marshal Syed Noman Ali, Air Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar, Air Marshal Javed Saeed and Air Marshal Haseeb Ahmed Piracha.

This would be the  third time that Prime Minister Imran Khan would appoint a service chief among three services chiefs.

 Prime Minister Imran Khan had  earlier appointed Chief of Naval staff.

Prime Minister Imran Khan had also given a second extension to the Chief of Army Staff General QamarJjaved Bajwa and would also appoint a new Chief of Army Staff after the expiry of 2nd term of incumbent COAS Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa in August 2022.

Unlike PakistanArmy Chief who got extension in his tenure there are no chances of extension being given by the PM to Air chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan.

Special to The Nation

Sources says although Air marshal Syed Noman Ali is on the top on seniority list, however, Air  Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar and Air Marshal Muhammad Haseeb Piracha are  strong contenders for the top slot of Pakistan Air force.

Air Marshal Syed Noman Ali is heading Pakistan Aeronautical Complex Kamra, where under his command  production of Pakistan-China jointly made JF Thunder 17 production block three  started in January 2021.

Air Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar is presently serving as Deputy Chief of Air Staff Admin at Air Headquarters in Islamabad.

Air Marshal Javed Saeed is presently serving as Deputy Chief of the Air Staff, Air Defence (DCAS-AD), AHQ, Islamabad.

Air Marshal Muhammad Haseeb Piracha is serving as Deputy Chief of Air Staff, support DCAS-S at Air headquarters.

Prime Minister Imran  Khan would also consult out going Air Chief Mujahid Anwar Khan who is expected to pay him farewell call this week.

The consent of GHQ andJjoint Staff Headquarters also matters in the  appointment of Chief of Air staff.

Outgoing  Air Chief Marshal got the praise of civi andl military leadership as well of  the nation when Pakistan Air force gave a befitting response to Indian Air force on 27th February 2019  under code name “operation swift retort”, which resulted in the shooting down of two Indian air force fighter jets and capturing of Wing Commander Abhinandan.