The past month has raised a number of questions in Pakistan over not only the future direction of the country's premier intelligence agency, the ISI, but also who it answers to.
On October 6, Pakistan's military announced the reassignment of Lt Gen Faiz Hameed, who has been the agency's director-general for more than two years, to the command of the army's XI Corps, based in Peshawar. The announcement was made as a matter of course; while the ISI reports directly to the prime minister, in practice its director-general, who is by convention a serving army officer, answers to the head of the army, currently Gen Qamar Bajwa. When Gen Bajwa decided that it was time for Lt Gen Hameed to redeploy to Peshawar, it was simply announced by the military.
While it is clear enough that Lt Gen Hameed can be transferred on the order of Gen Bajwa, it is much less clear how much legal authority the army chief has in deciding who will replace him. The convention over the years has been that the prime minister appoints a new ISI director-general after consultation with the army chief, from a shortlist provided by the military. In recent years that "consultation" process has increasingly become a mere formality.
For nearly three weeks, Prime Minister Imran Khan has hung his hat on this formality and refused to sign off on Gen Bajwa's preferred candidate, Lt Gen Nadeem Anjum – in effect delaying the transfer of Lt Gen Hameed and a host of other senior appointments across the army’s command structure. For Pakistan's military, which undoubtedly would have interpreted this as interference in its personnel changes by the civilian branch of government, this was an unprecedented, and disturbing, development.
It also drew attention within Pakistan to the constitutional and legal ambiguity over who exactly commands the ISI. The prime minister's authority to oversee intelligence is essentially at odds with the military's HR rules.
The fact that Mr Khan appeared to contradict the army for a moment raised eyebrows about whether the army and the government are still on the "same page" that both parties have regularly boasted of ever since Mr Khan’s government was sworn into office in 2018 with strong military support.
After all, even though the ISI chief's appointment by the prime minister is constrained by an army shortlist, the fact that the shortlist exists has long provided Pakistan’s civilian leaders with a valuable measure of leverage over generals competing for the job.
There is no written law or procedure in Pakistan for the appointment of a new ISI director-general
For Mr Khan, however, that is not the issue at all. He seems neither to have been trying to exert his leverage over the military, nor to have been reconsidering his alliance with it. In reality, his reluctance to let Lt Gen Hameed go seems to have been a clumsy effort to maintain that alliance.
Lt Gen Hameed and Mr Khan are close, and the former has been integral in shaping the latter's policies towards Afghanistan, where the Taliban's takeover has put Pakistan at an important geopolitical crossroads. Given that Pakistan's army is a large institution with regular personnel turnover, the risk for Mr Khan is that it will soon be headed by figures who lack strong personal ties to him. The ISI chief is a unique position for officers, because the title-holder is a principal adviser to the prime minister, and Mr Khan reportedly told his Cabinet last month that he wants to keep Lt Gen Hameed in the role for "a while".
Mr Khan is even said to be in favour of Lt Gen Hameed eventually succeeding Gen Bajwa as Pakistan's top military officer.
Ironically, one of the reasons for this drama may be that Gen Bajwa shares the same desire; Lt Gen Hameed is something of a protege to him. But whereas Mr Khan is thinking like a politician, trying to keep his friends close, Gen Bajwa is thinking like an officer, trying to groom Lt Gen Hameed through the ranks of service. By the Pakistan Army's internal conventions, only someone who has commanded a corps, the army's largest and most complex combat formation, is seen as a candidate fit to command the army as a whole. By posting Lt Gen Hameed to lead XI Corps, Gen Bajwa was putting him in a strong position to succeed him.
Divisions between the prime minister and the army – especially ones like this, born of the gap between constitutional and political reality – are particularly unnerving at a time of rising popular discontent with Mr Khan's party. Firm backing from the military is essential to deterring exactly the kind of street agitations and media campaigns that undermined the government of his predecessor and rival, Nawaz Sharif.
Worse still, by creating such a long delay in the ISI succession process, Mr Khan has possibly overplayed his hand. The Pakistan Army has publicly indicated on more than one occasion that it regards itself as the guardian of the country’s ideological and political frontiers, not just its territorial ones. It has long promoted a belief that the political class cannot be trusted to rise above their personal self-interest and act in the national interest. This has justified zealous defence of its independence from political "interference" that elsewhere is regarded as basic democratic oversight.
And so, after mounting frustration from the army, Mr Khan relented, and last week announced that Lt Gen Anjum would take over from Lt Gen Hameed later this month. And because of the damaging optics, and the fact that it is now obvious Mr Khan would have preferred Lt Gen Hameed to stay, Lt Gen Anjum owes the Prime Minister nothing. Mr Khan's leverage is wasted, and that risks publicly diminishing his influence over the ISI.
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-finals, first leg
Liverpool v Roma
When: April 24, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Anfield, Liverpool
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
The years Ramadan fell in May
The years Ramadan fell in May
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl
Power: 153hp at 6,000rpm
Torque: 200Nm at 4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Price: Dh99,000
On sale: now
THE BIO
Favourite car: Koenigsegg Agera RS or Renault Trezor concept car.
Favourite book: I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes or Red Notice by Bill Browder.
Biggest inspiration: My husband Nik. He really got me through a lot with his positivity.
Favourite holiday destination: Being at home in Australia, as I travel all over the world for work. It’s great to just hang out with my husband and family.
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
If you go:
The flights: Etihad, Emirates, British Airways and Virgin all fly from the UAE to London from Dh2,700 return, including taxes
The tours: The Tour for Muggles usually runs several times a day, lasts about two-and-a-half hours and costs £14 (Dh67)
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is on now at the Palace Theatre. Tickets need booking significantly in advance
Entrance to the Harry Potter exhibition at the House of MinaLima is free
The hotel: The grand, 1909-built Strand Palace Hotel is in a handy location near the Theatre District and several of the key Harry Potter filming and inspiration sites. The family rooms are spacious, with sofa beds that can accommodate children, and wooden shutters that keep out the light at night. Rooms cost from £170 (Dh808).
Pearls on a Branch: Oral Tales
Najlaa Khoury, Archipelago Books
THE BIO:
Sabri Razouk, 74
Athlete and fitness trainer
Married, father of six
Favourite exercise: Bench press
Must-eat weekly meal: Steak with beans, carrots, broccoli, crust and corn
Power drink: A glass of yoghurt
Role model: Any good man
Notable Yas events in 2017/18
October 13-14 KartZone (complimentary trials)
December 14-16 The Gulf 12 Hours Endurance race
March 5 Yas Marina Circuit Karting Enduro event
March 8-9 UAE Rotax Max Challenge
Western Region Asia Cup T20 Qualifier
Sun Feb 23 – Thu Feb 27, Al Amerat, Oman
The two finalists advance to the Asia qualifier in Malaysia in August
Group A
Bahrain, Maldives, Oman, Qatar
Group B
UAE, Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia
UAE group fixtures
Sunday Feb 23, 9.30am, v Iran
Monday Feb 25, 1pm, v Kuwait
Tuesday Feb 26, 9.30am, v Saudi
UAE squad
Ahmed Raza, Rohan Mustafa, Alishan Sharafu, Ansh Tandon, Vriitya Aravind, Junaid Siddique, Waheed Ahmed, Karthik Meiyappan, Basil Hameed, Mohammed Usman, Mohammed Ayaz, Zahoor Khan, Chirag Suri, Sultan Ahmed
Traits of Chinese zodiac animals
Tiger:independent, successful, volatile
Rat:witty, creative, charming
Ox:diligent, perseverent, conservative
Rabbit:gracious, considerate, sensitive
Dragon:prosperous, brave, rash
Snake:calm, thoughtful, stubborn
Horse:faithful, energetic, carefree
Sheep:easy-going, peacemaker, curious
Monkey:family-orientated, clever, playful
Rooster:honest, confident, pompous
Dog:loyal, kind, perfectionist
Boar:loving, tolerant, indulgent