Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Major General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, Major General Omer Ahmed Bukhari and Major General Inayat Hussain have been promoted to the rank of lieutenant general, according The News reported.

The news outlet claimed that Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir had appointed the newly promoted officers to their new posts.

Lt Gen Omer Bukhari would serve as Commander 11 Corps (Peshawar) and Lt Gen Inayat Hussain as chief of logistics services (GHQ).

Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry will continue to perform his current duties as DG ISPR.

In the 84 Long Course, Lt Gen Bukhari was awarded the sword of honour. Lt Gen Hussain, who belongs to Hunza, has received the presidential gold medal.

The Pakistan Army has also appointed new corps commanders for the Peshawar and Mangla Corps, bringing changes to the leadership structure, Dawn reported.

As part of the reshuffle, Major General Omer Bukhari has been promoted to the rank of lieutenant general and assigned as the commander of the Peshawar-based XI Corps. He will replace Lieutenant General Hassan Azhar Hayat Khan, who is set to retire later this month.

Lt Gen Khan had been serving as the Peshawar Corps Commander since August 2022, and his tenure was expected to end in November. However, due to reaching the age of superannuation, he will retire on May 16.

The news outlet linked the development to renewed focus on countering militancy in the province.

Lt Gen Bukhari previously held the position of vice chief of general staff (alpha) at the General Headquarters. His appointment may also “bring potential changes to the relationship between the PTI-led government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the military leadership in the region.”

In another significant development, Lt General Nauman Zakria, the chief of logistics staff, has been posted as the commander of the Mangla Corps, filling the vacancy left by the early retirement of Lt Gen Ayman Bilal Safdar.

Furthermore, at the CLS secretariat, Lt Gen Zakria has been replaced by another newly promoted officer, Lt Gen Inayat Hussain, who previously served as a major general and vice chief of general staff (bravo).