A NEW SPYMASTER
Highly placed sources report that Maj. Gen. Nadeem Taj, currently the Commandant of the Pakistan Military Academy (PMA), will be named the new ISI chief in the coming days, replacing Lt. Gen. Ashfaq Kayani.
Maj. Gen. Taj is a trustworthy ally of Pres. Gen. Musharraf’s and has been considered by many to be up for a promotion in the coming reshuffle. Taj, once Musharraf’s Military Secretary (MS), has accompanied Musharraf through some of the regime’s most significant events. He was flying with Musharraf on that fateful flight from Sri Lanka on October 12, 1999 when the coup was launched and was also in Musharraf’s car during the assassination attempts of 2003. From MS, he was appointed Director General of Military Intelligence (DGMI) and then moved on to become General Officer Commanding (GOC) Lahore before landing his current role at Kakul.
The question then becomes, what of Gen. Kayani? The media has been rife with speculation about Kayani’s next post, oscillating between Vice Chief of Army Staff (VCOAS) and the largely ceremonial post, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS). Sources have also confirmed that though due to retire in October, Kiyani will most definitely be occupying one of the two aforementioned posts. With Musharraf already having announced through spokespeople that he will be stepping down as Chief of Army Staff (COAS) after being elected President, VCOAS may essentially translate into a direct transition to COAS.
Musharraf’s plans to step out of uniform also indicate that the reshuffle of top Army posts is bound to increase in pace. Word that a new DG ISI is being appointed soon reflects that.
AN EXPOSED JUSTICE
Many are expectantly awaiting another showdown between Pres. Musharraf and the Pakistani Supreme Court, particularly Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, after Musharraf essentially flipped the top judge the finger and deported Nawaz Sharif. Those waiting for a confrontation won’t have to wait for long – but not because there’s going to be a confrontation.
The same sources privy to government plans have indicated that Chief Justice Chaudhry will likely be leaving office soon (”within a month”) as the government intends on bringing to light Chaudhry’s collaboration with Nawaz Sharif and his role in mitigating Sharif’s return. If presented to the public or courts with even a modicum of credibility, such charges can be damning for Chaudhry, who during and since his campaign to be reinstated, championed the independence of the judiciary.
We’re in for a very interesting ride.
6 responses so far ↓
1 The Insider Brief » Blog Archive » Kayani’s Next Role and Renewed Negotiations // Oct 26, 2007 at 1:39 am
[...] The Insider Brief « A New Spymaster and an Exposed Justice [...]
2 The Insider Brief » Blog Archive » The Supreme Court Yields to Musharraf // Oct 26, 2007 at 1:44 am
[...] the time I wrote “A New Spymaster and an Exposed Justice,” wherein I revealed the identity of the next ISI chief and plans to expose the Chief [...]
3 Aftermath: Musharraf's State of Emergency | The Insider Brief // Nov 4, 2007 at 5:11 pm
[...] 1st. Back in September, we had also stated that there moves were afoot by the government to force then-Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry’s resignation and that he would be out of office in a month; a month and a half later, Chaudhry finds himself out [...]
4 KAWA // Dec 11, 2007 at 11:51 pm
The spy chief is a family member of General Musharraf. He is married to Musharraf’s real sister’s daughter.
He has done littlework as a spy chief for Pakistan. His entire tenure has been dedicated to ensure that his “Uncle’s” power is safeguarded.
Never in the history of military dictatorship has any General gone to this extent of creating a cult of his biradari and have them surround him for protection. Musharraf’s confidence of holding on to power was based on placing Generals like Nadeem Taj in the power structure, loyalty of whom undoubtedly was to h alone….The country could go to hell…
5 A barrister // Dec 29, 2007 at 5:09 pm
General Taj is not married to the Musharaf’s SISTER’S daughter. Gen. Taj’s wife’s mother was musharaf’s second cousin so the family ie really isnt that strong. As for Genral Taj’s proffesional carrer, he is known in all circles, political, army and bussiness communities as an honest and moderate man. There may be many generals worthy of the charges that are thrown at them but General taj is not one of them.
there was considerable reform in the Pakistan Military Academy while he was the Commandant. the introduction of women in the armed forces was his doing. Two Sikh cadets were accepted in the Academy during his time, which had never been done before.
Gen Kiani is also known to be an upright and proffesional man who has no blemishes to his name.
i think that saying that general musharaf is putting these people in these posts to secure his presedency is not correct. i think that he has realised that the people he was trusting and was listening to before were all opportunists with vested interests and now he is looking to people from his earlier rule days to restore the initial plan for the country
6 hamza khan // Mar 4, 2008 at 10:28 am
Very well said. Thank you for verifying Gen Nadeem Taj’s reputation. People in our community have a penchant for verbal diarrhea, spewing out vile lies against anyone and everyone they can get away with it. You have convincingly laid to rest the propaganda done against general taj. Thank you and good job! God knows who this Kawa character is, and where his loyalties lie.
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