Who is Gen Sahir Shamshad Mirza? The man reportedly challenging Pakistan’s Army Chief

Amid ongoing tensions with India, unconfirmed reports surfaced online about rifts within the top brass of the Pakistan Army. Reports claimed that there has been a power struggle between General Asim Munir and General Shamshad Mirza, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC).

Sahir Shamshad Mirza
Sahir Shamshad Mirza is a four-star Pakistani Army General. Photo courtesy: Free Press Journal

If reports are to be believed, Gen Munir has been detained by Gen Mirza and his loyalists, and the latter could become the next chief of the Pakistani Army amid escalating tension with India.

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Who Is General Sahir Shamshad Mirza?

General Sahir Shamshad Mirza is a Pakistani four-star general and serves as the 18th CJCSC. He was appointed to the post on November 27, 2022. He also commanded the Rawalpindi Northern Command from 2021 to 2022.

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General Mirza was born in Pakistan Punjab’s Chakwal district. He lost his parents at a very young age.

Gen Asim Munir
General Asim Munir. Photo courtesy: Inter Services Public Relations Pakistan/Wikipedia

General Mirza graduated from the Pakistan Military Academy, Command and Staff College, Quetta, and National Defence University, Pakistan.

He was commissioned into the 8th Sind Regiment of the Pakistan Army after completing the 76th Pakistan Military Academy course on September 10, 1987.

He also served as adjutant general at the GHQ, Commander X Corps and Director General and G1M06 at the Military Operations Directorate. He also commanded the 40th Infantry Division in Okara.

In December 2022, General Mirza received the Nishan-e-Imtiaz award alongside General Munir.

(The article is published under a mutual content partnership arrangement between The Free Press Journal and Connected to India)