ISLAMABAD, 25 March 2008 — Hours after the election of Yousaf Raza Gilani as the 22nd prime minister of Pakistan, Chief of Army Staff Gen. Ashfaq Pervez Kayani yesterday announced a major reshuffle in the army removing President Musharraf’s favorite Corps Commander Lt. Gen. Shafaatullah Shah.
Gen. Shafaat had earlier received a note of displeasure from Gen. Kayani for holding an unauthorized meeting with caretaker Prime Minister Muhammadmian Soomro.
A statement by Inter-Services Public Relations said Lt. Gen. Shafaat, Corps Commander, Lahore, has been posted as Chief of Logistic Staff (CLS) at General Headquarters. Lt. Gen. Ijaz Ahmed Bakhshi replaces Lt. Gen. Shafaat.
Corps Commander Mangla, Lt. Gen. Sajjad Akram, has been posted as Deputy Chairman ERRA, while Lt. Gen. Nadeem Ahmed has been posted as Corps Commander, Mangla.
Lt. Gen. Shujaat Zamir Dar has been posted at the General Headquarters. Maj. Gen. Mukhtar Ahmed, DG NAB, has been posted as director general at General Headquarters. Earlier, Gen. Kayani replaced another Musharraf favorite, Director General of Military Intelligence Maj. Gen. Nadeem Iajaz with Maj. Gen. Muhammad Asif. Early this year, Gen. Kayani issued directives barring army personnel from holding civilian offices.
Fuel for Afghanistan Targeted
The military appointments were announced as authorities yesterday launched an investigation into a series of explosions that destroyed 38 trucks carrying fuel for NATO forces and injured about 100 people on a Pakistani border crossing, officials said.
Two timer devices exploded in the parking area of Torkham customs post on the Pakistan-Afghan border on Sunday night, triggering a series of blasts and huge fire that engulfed the oil tankers waiting there for clearance.
Police have detained nine people for questioning — three parking lot attendants and six border guards who were on duty at the time.
— With input from agencies
