Rizwan Akhtar

Islamabad, Sept. 22: Pakistan today appointed Lt Gen Rizwan Akhtar as the new chief of the country's most powerful spy agency, the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI).

Akhtar, who is among the five major generals promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Generals, will replace Lieutenant General Zaheer-ul-Islam, who is retiring on completion of his tenure on October 1.

A career officer, Akhtar was serving as Director General paramilitary Rangers in Sindh province before his appointment as the ISI chief. He recently handed over command of Sindh Rangers to his successor Major General Bilal Akbar after holding the post for nearly two years. Akhtar is expected to assume his new assignment in the first week of October.

Akhtar's main job is Karachi was to supervise the ongoing operation against hardened crminals including target killers, gun runners, drug traffickers, those involved in kidnappings for ransom and Taliban militants.

For his part, the DG describes himself as “very happy” at the progress that has so far been made, in Karachi although he is relieved to be moving on. “Ever since I became major general I’ve been on command, I haven’t had a chance to relax. I like playing golf, but haven’t played a single day since the operation began,” Dawn newspaper quoted him as saying.

The new appointment comes at a time when the protests by cricketer-turned politician Imran Khan and Canada-based populist cleric Tahir-ul-Qadri, which are aimed at ousting Pakistan Muslim League (N) government enters second month.

Analysts say it is yet to be seen what impact the new appointment will have on civil-military relations, which have traditionally not been very cordial.

However, the role played by the army chief General Raheel Sharif in the current impasse, asking the protesting opposition parties and the government to show restraint and resolve issues through negotiations earned admiration in the country, which has otherwise ruled by the military for half of its existence since achieving independence from the British rule.

It is also one of the most controversial, given accusations against the ISI of meddling in domestic politics and having ties to the Afghan Taliban and other insurgent groups fighting US-led Nato troops in Afghanistan, charges the military denies.

Although the ISI officially reports to the Prime Minister, in reality it is controlled by the army chief, in this case Gen. Raheel Sharif.

Akhtar’s previous job was head of the paramilitary Rangers in the province of Sindh in the south, where he led a comprehensive operation against Islamist groups and criminal gangs in Karachi. “He is a horribly straight guy, all black and white,” a serving military official said of Akhtar.

“He has served in a place like Karachi ... with all its turf wars and politics while remaining neutral and apolitical and also has extensive experience of counter-insurgency and counter-terror- ism. He was the obvious choice.”