Sept. 29: In an apparent bid to please Army Chief General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani, Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has appointed senior Army commander Khalid Shamim Wyne as Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC).
The appointment of a close aide of Gen. Kayani to the second most powerful Army post comes at a time when the country is abuzz with a political change. The President and the Prime Minister had earlier decided in principle to appoint Naval chief Admiral Noman Bashir as the next CJCSC. The slot has remained with the Army for over a decade.
Some circles do not rule out that Monday’s troika meeting between President Zardari, Prime Minister Gilani and Army Chief Gen. Ashfaq Pervez Kayani at the Presidency discussed the matter and the final decision was taken after taking the input of Gen. Kayani on the matter.
General Wyne (Infantry) is one of the closet top-ranked officers to Gen. Kayani, whose tenure as Army Chief has already been extended for another full term of three years beyond November 28 this year. “President Asif Ali Zardari promoted Lieutenant-General Khalid Shamim Wyne to the rank of full general and appointed him Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, on the advice of Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani,” presidential spokesman Faratullah Babar said. Gen. Wyne, who is currently serving as the chief of general staff, will replace Gen. Tariq Majeed, who is retiring on October 6.