This replacement has been attributed to Major General Athar Abbas' retirement, scheduled in June. Athar Abbas was appointed as the DG ISPR on 14 January 2008 after succeeding over Major General Waheed Arshad.

Major General Asim Saleem Bajwa has commanded 34 Punjab Regiment and has been the commander of 111 brigade. Mr. Bajwa joined the Punjab Regiment after getting commissioned on 16 March 1984. Bajwa has also served as the deputy military secretary under Pervez Musharraf.

Currently, Mr. Bajwa is posted in Dera Ismail Khan as a general commanding officer. He has been working there for the past two years.