The appointment of the DG ISPR has become very glamorous over the past few years. The outspoken Maj Gen Rashid Qureshi and his well decorated uniform had brought new meaning to the post as he became Pakistan’s answer to threatening and piercing global scrutiny during Kargil and months later after the 12 Oct 1999 Coup and again after Pakistan was given extra attention post 9/11. He was posted out as the DG National Guard where he later retired. Maj Gen Shaukat Sultan replaced him in 2003 and he turned out to be very different, but proved himself to be the right man for the job. Last week Maj Gen Shaukat Sultan was posted out from ISPR and given a highly imortant command appointment as GOC Lahore. This appointment speaks volumes about the officer’s capabilities, and he very well maybe heading towards another step up the rank ladder.
The new DG ISPR is Maj Gen Waheed Arshad who was serving as GOC Bahawalpur. Let’s see how he serves ISPR.
What's the criteria to be DG ISPR? Do you have to be a good lier to get the job? Rashid Qureshi lied about Kargil, Shaukat Sultan lied about Al Qaeda and Taliban.
^^^ He meant to be a well spin doctor for the Army and government. thats what this post is all about. I dont know about ma gen Qureshi . Shaukat sultan seems to have been a good spin doctor and done the job very well.
General Quershi did an oustanding job back in 1999. He headed the ISPR which is a very well run dept in the military, me and Haris actually had a discussion via PM about it. Lets hope the new DG does a good job.
Haris, does this position require a person to be a general? I believe Gen Qureshi was a Brig at the time he got the post, if memory serves me right
Yup Spock youre right, prior to 2000 the commandant of ISPR was a Brigadier rank officer, but I think the govt in around 2000 rightly perceived the growing important role of ISPR, which has certainly advanced alot since 1999, and Brig Rashid Qureshi was promoted from Director ISPR to first DG ISPR as a Maj Gen, and now the ISPR's role is probably considered much more strategically important so as to be commanded by a combat arm General, perhaps owing to the modern information age concepts of Information Warfare. Similarly the respective PR Directorates of PAF and Navy (which are subordinated to ISPR) were previously headed by Gp Capt or Captain (i.e. Colonel) level officers, were raised to Air Commodore or Commodore (i.e. Brigadier) level directors.
No he was actually on a local (honourary) promotion in the rank of Maj Gen, he went on to be the DG National Guard after ISPR in the same rank and retired from there. His rank would read H/Maj Gen in official documents I believe?
In either case, regardless of what Rashid Qureshi's actual rank is, the ISPR is now lead by full Maj Gens.
You know that as per my knowledge, this honorary rank is not a norm but an exception only created for him. He is extremely disliked in army as per my knowledge by all, seniors, peers and juniors.
MKF, I'm not sure what reputation he has had over his 30 yr long career, but have you heard any particular reasons or stories causing this?
And the honourary rank is not made for him only, it's always been there, but is rarely given, and I'm not sure what reason it's given for and in what cases.
I met him, hes a really nice guy, a little uptight just like any other general/brig, but he was nice enough to talk about my educational endaveours, as would a sensible person meeting a youth of the country. And MKF maybe some people in the army didnt like him because he was a strict officer?
I see Spock, and one look at his uniform tells he wasnt a nonesense infantry officer, and besides reaching upto the 1 star rank is enough to certify an officer's professionalism and quality owing to the selection procedures upto Brigadier level, as far as peers', seniors' and suboridinates' opinions; youre right they could be formed out of any reasons, perhaps his off-duty personal habits, personailty traits etc.
Spock, the reason i know has been his typical attitude & lack of professionalism. You are in USA probably and therefore he might have been reasonable to meet you but he will mostly get the worst remarks from an army man. He was a typical naukree type selfish person who not wait to cut your neck in order to get certain gain.
He had a extremely distinguished career enough to make him a three star not a one star. (This information i have just fetched for you from two army friends of mine). He was a top brigadier in army and chief of staff to musharraf in mangla. Than some scandal broke out on which he was immediately removed from his position by JK and sent to some Khudday line posting. Also he was not promoted afterwards in the promotion board by JK. Now as he was a loyal servant of the master he was given honorary rank once the master came into power by luck.
What was the scandal? Though both my friends told similar story i feel it is improper to narrate it but you can ask more army men and most will tell you about him in these words.
MKF, actually Spock might have met him in Pakistan, and the scandal you speak of, I think I have heard versions of it here and there and I feel it's of personal nature, not involving his professionalism or service to Army or nation.
As far as a distinguished career goes, the military promotion system is such that officers are prmoted upto 1 star rank on the basis of their qualification and ability, i.e. almost no officer can reach upto Brigadier rank without having qualified the courses from CSC, NDC and various others. Beyond 1 star descend lots of other factors and a scandal or personality traits may have come in his way. I'm really not trying to defend or declare him an epitome of smthng at all, just making a point abt how it usually goes and how perceptions are created whether or not there's enough reason.
Yep, I met him in Pakistan, though I admit I met him with his bhateeja who is a buddy of mine... But he was pretty cool, he even lifted some of the silly media bans,
Look spock! Of course this thing is not in black and white and cannot be. Why i said that his own unit did not like him is because of being told this thing. You can call it heresay or my personal choice to listen. Why i said this? Because an officer told me that he went to 9FF in Multan and CO directed one junior officer to make him visit the unit museum (9FF is 150 years old). The officer while watching the artifacts saw the picture of col of the battalion and seemed to recognize the person and asked the youngster,"Isn't he Gen Rashid Qureshi". The boy replied that i am sorry for this but you are right. Unfortunately he is the one who is our col of the battalion. Now if you ask the CO who is a career officer, he will always say that we are proud of him but if you want to get the pulse, either ask the jawan or young officer.
I am sure this will not clarify my point and neither i want to demean him in your eyes. I am just stating what i choose to believe. yes this is true that being from military college i have counless friends in Army and i have so far not heard any good words about him from them.