FAIZ HAMEED

About:

• Lieutenant General Faiz Hameed, a former senior ISI figure, was appointed Director-General of the powerful ISI spy agency, replacing its current head, Lieutenant General Asim Munir, after only eight months on the job.
  
  
• Implications: He is said to be a hard-liner. Activists allege a pattern of growing authoritarianism by the military, which they say has become even more influential since Prime Minister Imran Khan came to power last year.
  
  

Background:

• The Army is arguably the most influential institution in Pakistan, with the military having ruled the country for nearly half of its 71-year history since independence from Britain and enjoying extensive powers even under civilian administrations.
  
  
• The head of the ISI occupies one of the most important posts. The agency has long been accused of supporting Islamist militants targeting neighbour India. as well as sheltering the Afghan Taliban and other militants.