Pakistan Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has named a former head of the national intelligence service to be the next army chief.
Information Minister Maryam Aurangzeb announced Mr Sharif’s decision to appoint Lt Gen Syed Asim Munir to the post shortly after a cabinet meeting on Thursday.
Lt Gen Munir, currently serving as the army's quartermaster general, will replace Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, who will retire next week after six years as head of the army.
Mr Sharif also decided to appoint Lt Gen Sahir Shamshad Mirza as the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, the information minister said.
The appointments must be approved by the president, Arif Alvi.
The top military posts carry great significance in Pakistan, where the armed forces wield enormous political influence and have ruled the country for half of its 75-year history.
Former prime minister Imran Khan has accused the military of being part of what he alleges was a US-backed conspiracy to remove him from office in a no-confidence vote earlier this year.
On Wednesday, Gen Bajwa rejected Mr Khan’s claims as "fake and false" while saying the military would have no role in national politics in the future.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said the appointment of Gen Bajwa's successor was “based on merit, law and as per the constitution".
Lt Gen Munir is the most senior ranking general after Gen Bajwa and served as chief of Pakistan's two most influential intelligence agencies, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and the Military Intelligence.
He was removed as head of the ISI in 2019 at the request of Mr Khan, who took office the previous year. No reason was given for the decision.
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Austin Arnett (USA) bt Daniel Vega (MEX)
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Catchweight 54kg:
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Middleweight:
Joan Arastey (ESP) bt Omran Chaaban (LEB)
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Welterweight:
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Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
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Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
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