Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry
Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 22nd Director-General of the ISPR | |
| Assumed office 6 December 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Babar Iftikhar |
| Personal details | |
| Parent |
|
| Alma mater | Pakistan Military Academy, Command & Staff College Quetta, German staff college, National Defence University, Islamabad |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Pakistan |
| Branch/service |  Pakistan Army |
| Rank |   Lieutenant General |
Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, HI(M) (Urdu: أحمد شریف چودہری ) is a three-star General in the Pakistan Army. He is currently serving as the 22nd Director General of ISPR since 6 December 2022.[2] He comes from Electrical and Mechanical Engineering (EME) corps.
Family
[edit]Chaudhry was born to Sultan Bashiruddin Mahmood, a nuclear scientist and founder of Ummah Tameer-e-Nau[3][4] who was arrested in 2001 following the September 11 attacks due to suspected ties with the Taliban. Bashiruddin was released later that same year after the ISI concluded that he lacked the knowledge to pass on nuclear weapons secrets.[5][1]
Military career
[edit]Chaudhry is of EME Corps and previously served as Director General of Defence Science and Technology Organisation, taking over in December 2022 and replaced Babar Iftikhar.[2]
He is also the first one from Electrical and Mechanical Engineering corps to be appointed as the DG ISPR.[6]
According to media reports on 11 May 2024, Chaudhry was reportedly elevated to the rank of Lieutenant General.[7]
May 2024 press conference
[edit]On 8 May 2024, during a press conference in his capacity as DG ISPR, Chaudhry responded to inquiries regarding the potential for dialogue with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) by stating that “If some political mindset, leader or clique attacks its own army, causes rifts between the army and its people, insults the nation’s martyrs and issues threats and hatches propaganda, then there can be no dialogue with them." He also remarked that the "there is only one way back for such political anarchists that PTI asks for an earnest apology in front of the nation and promises that it will forgo politics of hate and adopt constructive politics".[8] On the same day, PTI termed Chaudhry's press conference as "‘a pack of lies’ and ‘full of contradictions and frustration". PTI also stated that the statements made by Chaudhry would deteriorate relations between the state and its people.[9]
The following day, Imran Khan declined to offer an apology.[10] Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Omar Ayub Khan also dismissed Chaudhry's press conference, and questioned his authority to engage in political negotiations. Ayub further stated that Chaudhry appeared "confused and lacked narrative."[11] On 10 May, PTI also labeled Chaudhry's press conference as "unconstitutional and illegal."[12]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Swami, Praveen (6 December 2022). "Pakistan's new ISPR chief is son of Osama-linked scientist who said djinns can make electricity". ThePrint. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
- ^ a b "Major General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry replaces Babar Iftikhar as new DG ISPR". Daily Pakistan Global. 2022-12-20. Retrieved 2023-01-01.
- ^ "Ummah Tameer E-Nau (UTN)". United States Department of the Treasury. 5 January 2006. Archived from the original on 2006-01-05. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
- ^ "DHS: Day 100 of the War on Terrorism: More Steps to Shut Down Terrorist Support Networks". U.S. Department of Homeland Security. 24 October 2006. Archived from the original on 2006-10-24. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
- ^ Overbye, Dennis; Glanz, James (2 November 2001). "A NATION CHALLENGED: NUCLEAR FEARS; Pakistani Atomic Expert, Arrested Last Week, Had Strong Pro-Taliban Views". The New York Times. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
- ^ Syed, Baqir Sajjad (2 December 2022). "New COAS Asim Munir to appoint engineer as ISPR head". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
- ^ Syed, Baqir Sajjad (11 May 2024). "Peshawar, Mangla corps commanders appointed". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
- ^ Ali, Kalbe (8 May 2024). "No negotiations without apology, army tells PTI". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ Junaidi, Ikram (8 May 2024). "PTI terms DG ISPR's presser a pack of lies, full of contradictions". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ Asad, Malik (9 May 2024). "Imran refuses to tender apology over May 9 riots". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ Junaidi, Ikram (9 May 2024). "Opposition leaders slam military involvement in politics". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ Junaidi, Ikram (11 May 2024). "PTI urges security forces to shun 'political interference'". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 12 May 2024.