Pakistan names former spy master Gen. Asim Munir as new army chief

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday picked Lt. Gen. Asim Munir to replace outgoing Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa as new chief of the country’s all-powerful army.

The head of the army is arguably the most influential person in Pakistan — with the military having ruled the country for about half of its 75-year history since independence from Britain — and has extensive powers even under civilian administrations.