Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur was notably absent from the ceremony marking Chief of Army Staff Syed Asim Munir’s formal elevation to field marshal, while the other three chief ministers attended. Faraz Mughal, the KP chief minister’s spokesperson, provided an explanation for this widely observed absence.
“Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur was attending a party meeting for the release of PTI founder Imran Khan,” the spokesperson stated, detailing the reason that led the KP chief minister to skip the function. Imran Khan, the 72-year-old cricketer-turned-politician, has been incarcerated since August 2023 in numerous cases, which he describes as politically motivated. The charges against him in these cases include receiving foreign gifts, involvement in inciting attacks on military installations, and carrying out arson.
In recognition of his exemplary and exceptional leadership during Pakistan’s recent military clashes with India and the successful execution of “Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos,” the federal government on Tuesday elevated COAS Munir to the rank of field marshal. This decision was made during a federal cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The government approved COAS Munir’s promotion to field marshal for ensuring the security of the country and defeating the enemy through superior strategy and courageous leadership during “Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos.” The rank of field marshal, a five-star designation, represents the highest position in the Pakistan Army, surpassing the rank of a general.
On Thursday, President Asif Ali Zardari and PM Shehbaz jointly conferred the baton of field marshal upon Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) Munir during a special investiture ceremony at Aiwan-e-Sadr in Islamabad. Addressing the ceremony at the President House, the president expressed his profound pleasure in conferring the baton of field marshal upon COAS Munir in recognition of his extraordinary services to Pakistan during a turbulent period, and with full confidence in his command and character.
On this occasion, PM Shehbaz extended the nation’s salute to their national heroes: Field Marshal Munir, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu, and Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf. The premier added, “You have led our brave armed forces to a remarkable victory against an enemy, caught in its own web of arrogance and hubris.”
During his interaction with senior journalists at the ceremony, the field marshal lauded the role of Pakistani media during the Pakistan-India war, stating: “Media is our pride. You people have told the world that we only speak the truth.” He emphasized that the press is the fourth pillar of the state. “You fought the battle alongside us,” the field marshal told the journalists.
