Sahir Shamshad Mirza

General Sahir Shamshad Mirza HI(M) NI(M) (Urdu: ساحر شمشاد مرزا) is a four-star rank general in the Pakistan Army, currently serving as the 18th Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee[3] appointed to the post on 27 November 2022.[4] Prior to his appointment as Commander of X Corps at Rawalpindi, he previously served as 35th Chief of General Staff until he was succeeded by Azhar Abbas.[5][6]

General
Sahir Shamshad Mirza
NI(M), HI(M)
ساحر شمشاد مرزا
18th Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee
Assumed office
27 November 2022
PresidentArif Alvi
Preceded byGeneral Nadeem Raza
Former Commands
Corps Commander Rawalpindi
In office
7 September 2021 – 26 November 2022
Preceded byAzhar Abbas
Succeeded byShahid Imtiaz
35th Chief of General Staff
In office
June 2019 – September 2021
Preceded byNadeem Raza
Succeeded byAzhar Abbas
Adjutant General at GHQ
In office
June 2019 – September 2019
Preceded byFaiz Hameed
Succeeded byMuhammad Aamer
Vice Chief of General Staff – Alpha
In office
October 2018 – June 2019
Preceded byMajor General Shaheen Mazhar Mehmood
Succeeded byMajor General Muhammad Asim Malik
Director General Military Operations
In office
September 2015 – October 2018
Preceded byMajor General Aamer Riaz
Succeeded byMajor General Nauman Zakaria
GOC 40th Infantry Division, D.I. Khan
In office
February 2015 – September 2015
Succeeded byMajor General Abid Mumtaz
Personal details
BornMulhal Mughlan, Chakwal District, Pakistan
Parent
  • Shamshad Mirza (father)
Education
Awards Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Military)
Hilal-e-Imtiaz (M)
Military service
Allegiance Pakistan
Branch/service Pakistan Army
Years of service1987–Present
Rank General
Unit8 Sind Regiment
Commands
List of Commands
[2]
Battles/wars

On 8 December 2022, Sahir received the Nishan-e-Imtiaz (military) award alongside COAS Asim Munir from Arif Alvi at the Aiwan-e-Sadr. The top military officials were given the awards in front of Prime Minister of Pakistan, diplomats, lawmakers, and federal ministers.[7]

Early life

Sahir was born to Shamshad Mirza in Mulhal Mughlan, a small village located in Chakwal District. Sahir was an only child and lost his parents at a young age which led to him being raised as an orphan.[8]

Military career

Sahir was commissioned into the 8th Sind Regiment of the Pakistan Army after completing the 76th Pakistan Military Academy course on 10 September 1987. He has held commands such as adjutant general at the GHQ, Commander X Corps and Director General for Military Operations.[9] During his assignment at Military Operations, he commanded 40th Infantry Division in Okara.[10]

Military schooling

He graduated from the Pakistan Military Academy, Command and Staff College, Quetta and National Defence University, Pakistan. He also received his M.Sc. degree in Global Security from Cranfield University, United Kingdom.[11]

Publications
  • Lieutenant Colonel Sahir Shamshad Mirza, “Subcontinental Security and Its Impact on World Security: Challenges and the Way Forward”, NDU Journal, 2009.[12]

Dates of rank
InsigniaRankDate
GeneralNov 2022[13]
Lieutenant GeneralApr 2019
Major GeneralFeb 2015[14]
BrigadierSept 2012
ColonelSept 2010
Lieutenant ColonelApr 2001
MajorMay 1996
CaptainApr 1991
LieutenantOct 1989
Second LieutenantOct 1987

Awards and decorations
Nishan-e-Imtiaz

(Military)

(Order of Excellence)

(2022)

 Hilal-e-Imtiaz

(Military)

(Crescent of Excellence)

(2018)

 Tamgha-e-Diffa

(General Service Medal)

Siachen Glacier Clasp

 Order of Bahrain
Tamgha-e-Baqa

(Nuclear Test Medal)

1998

 Tamgha-e-Istaqlal Pakistan

(Escalation with India Medal)

2002

 Tamgha-e-Azm

(Medal of Conviction)

(2018)

 10 Years Service Medal
20 Years Service Medal 30 Years Service Medal 35 Years Service Medal Jamhuriat Tamgha

(Democracy Medal)

1988

Qarardad-e-Pakistan Tamgha

(Resolution Day

Golden Jubilee Medal)

1990

 Tamgha-e-Salgirah Pakistan

(Independence Day

Golden Jubilee Medal)

1997

 Command & Staff College Quetta

Instructor's Medal

 United Nations

UNOMSIL Medal

(2 Deployments)

Foreign decorations
Foreign Awards
 United Nations UNOMSIL Medal

References
  1. "Nishan-i-Imtiaz Conferred on CJCSC General Sahir Shamshad Mirza". 8 December 2022. During his illustrious military career, he served on various Command, Staff and Instructional assignments. His major staff appointments include Brigade Major of two Infantry Brigades, General Staff Officer Grade-1 (Plans) at Pakistan Contingent United Nations Mission Sierra Leone, Director Military Operations and Director General Military Operations, Vice Chief of General Staff, Adjutant General and Chief of General Staff at the General Headquarters. In his instructional appointments, he has been on the faculty of the School of Infantry and Tactics, Quetta, Pakistan Military Academy (PMA), Kakul and Command and Staff College, Quetta. General Sahir Shamshad Mirza has commanded an Infantry Battalion, each in North Waziristan and Shaqma War Zone, and Infantry Brigade along the Working Boundary, an Infantry Division in Operation Al-Mizan and Command of 10 Corps.
  2. https://dnd.com.pk/nishan-i-imtiaz-conferred-on-cjcsc-general-sahir-shamshad-mirza/279344
  3. "PM Shehbaz chooses Lt Gen Asim Munir as COAS, Lt Gen Sahir Shamshad as CJCSC". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 2022-11-24.
  4. Web Desk (2021-09-07). "Lt General Sahir Shamshad Mirza appointed Commander Rawalpindi Corps: ISPR". The Nation. Retrieved 2021-09-09.
  5. "Lt General Sahir Shamshad Mirza Appointed New Chief of Joint Staff: Pak Army". News18. 2019-11-26. Retrieved 2021-09-09.
  6. "Lt Gen Azhar Abbas made army's chief of general staff". DAWN.COM. 2021-09-08. Retrieved 2021-09-09.
  7. "President Alvi confers Nishan-i-Imtiaz (military) on COAS, CJCSC". The Express Tribune. 2022-12-08. Retrieved 2022-12-08.
  8. "What is 'Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee' and who is its new chairman Gen Sahir Shamshad?". 27 November 2022. General Sahir Shamshad Mirza belongs to Malhal Mughlan, a town of Chakwal district in Punjab. It is said that his father died in his early age and a few months after his father's death, his mother also left this world. After losing his parents, General Sahir Shamshad made his own life through hard work.
  9. Banerji, Rana (2019-11-26). "The man who could succeed Pak army chief". Rediff. Retrieved 2021-09-09.
  10. "Four promoted to rank of lieutenant general". DAWN.COM. 2019-04-13. Retrieved 2021-09-09.
  11. "Nishan-i-Imtiaz Conferred on CJCSC General Sahir Shamshad Mirza". 8 December 2022. During his illustrious military career, he served on various Command, Staff and Instructional assignments. His major staff appointments include Brigade Major of two Infantry Brigades, General Staff Officer Grade-1 (Plans) at Pakistan Contingent United Nations Mission Sierra Leone, Director Military Operations and Director General Military Operations, Vice Chief of General Staff, Adjutant General and Chief of General Staff at the General Headquarters. In his instructional appointments, he has been on the faculty of the School of Infantry and Tactics, Quetta, Pakistan Military Academy (PMA), Kakul and Command and Staff College, Quetta. General Sahir Shamshad Mirza has commanded an Infantry Battalion, each in North Waziristan and Shaqma War Zone, and Infantry Brigade along the Working Boundary, an Infantry Division in Operation Al-Mizan and Command of 10 Corps.
  12. Shah, Aqil (2014). The Army and Democracy: Military Politics in Pakistan. Harvard University Press. p. 372.
  13. https://www.bolnews.com/bolpedia/lt-gen-sahir-shamshad-mirza/
  14. https://www.ispr.gov.pk/press-release-detail?id=2777
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