Faisal Naseer

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Major General

Faisal Naseer
Native name
فیصل نصیر
Birth nameFaisal Naseer
Allegiance Pakistan
Service/branch Pakistan Army
Years of service1992–present
Rank Major General
UnitInter-Services Intelligence
Commands heldDG Counterterrorism ISI
Awards Tamgha-i-Basalat Hilal-e-Shujaat
Spouse(s)Hina Faisal

Faisal Naseer (Urdu: فیصل نصیر) is a Pakistani general and spymaster who is the current Director General of Counter Intelligence for the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).[1]

Family[edit]

Naseer is the son of Khalid Naseer, a banker at Habib Bank Limited, and Shama Khalid, author and lecturer at Fatima Jinnah Women University.[2][3]

Career[edit]

In 1992, Faisal Naseer was inducted into the Pakistan Army.[4] His pivotal role in Balochistan and Sindh as Sector Commander counterintelligence ISI Balochistan North, Quetta and Sector Commander MI Karachi respectively, earned him the moniker 'super spy'.[4]

During his tenure as a Brigadier in 2018, he was conferred with the Tamgha-i-Basalat, a distinguished service decoration.[5][6]

In July 2022, he was promoted to the rank of Major General.[7] Later, in the same year, he was designated as the Director General (Counterintelligence) DG(C), effectively making him the second-in-command of the ISI, overseeing internal security and counterintelligence.[4] He holds the highest position in Pakistani military intelligence, second only to the Director General of the ISI.[4]

Controversies[edit]

Controversy[edit]

The Pakistani senior Journalist Arshad Sharif, who was forced to flee from the country after being charged with sedition over criticizing the military,[8][9] was subsequently murdered in Kenya.[10] In his press briefing, Anjum tried to convince public regarding the fleeing of Arshad Sharif,[11] however, months after the presser, Arshad Sharif's mother publicly accused a number of senior-ranking officers of ISI, including former Army Chief General Bajwa, Faisal Naseer and Nadeem Anjum of conspiring for the "targeted, premeditated, planned and calculated murder" of her son, claiming that Sharif was threatened by the agency after insinuating in a program called "Woh Kon Tha", (aired on ARY News) that ISI and America had played a major part in Imran Khan's ouster through a high-profile regime change operation in Pakistan.[12]

Criticism[edit]

He was criticised and accused by former prime minister Imran Khan of being behind an attempt to assassinate him in November 2022. In October 2022, Naseer was accused of torturing Pakistani politician Azam Swati in custody. Imran Khan urged Chief of Army Staff Qamar Javed Bajwa to remove him, saying that he's bringing "disrepute to the army, Pakistan and you".[8]

However, when asked to bring up proof in order to back up his claims, Imran Khan admitted that he had no evidence for his allegations against Naseer.[13]

Awards and recognition[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "میجر جنرل فیصل نصیر: عمران خان کی تنقید کا نشانہ بننے والے آئی ایس آئی افسر کون ہیں؟". BBC Urdu. November 5, 2022.
  2. ^ Manga, Dhiren (11 May 2023). "Who is 'Dirty Harry' & Why does Imran Khan 'Fear' Him?". Archived from the original on 19 July 2023. He is the son of renowned author Shamma Khalid.
  3. ^ "Story writer Shama Khalid passes away". The News International. 10 March 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d "All about the 'Dirty Harry' ISI officer, whom Imran Khan blamed for his condition". India Today.
  5. ^ "President confers awards on various personalities". Business Recorder. March 24, 2018.
  6. ^ "Inter Services Public Relations Pakistan". ispr.gov.pk.
  7. ^ "12 major generals promoted to lieutenant general rank". October 11, 2022.
  8. ^ a b "A Pakistani journalist living in hiding was killed by police at a roadblock in Kenya. His killing was done by the ISI because of critical remarks about ISI roles in interfering in democracy". NPR. Associated Press. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  9. ^ Feleke, Bethlehem (2 December 2022). "Arshad Sharif's family demand justice as they grieve 'kind-hearted' journalist killed in Kenya". CNN. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  10. ^ "Journalist Arshad Sharif shot dead in Kenya". The Express Tribune. 24 October 2022. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  11. ^ "DG ISPR, DG ISI make explosive revelations about Arshad Sharif's murder, cypher controversy". Samaa. 27 October 2022. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  12. ^ "Slain Journalist Arshad Sharif's Mother Wants Gen Bajwa, DG ISI To Be Nominated In The FIR". The Friday Times. 7 December 2022. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  13. ^ "Imran tells JIT he has no evidence against Gen Faisal". The News International. 2023-06-13. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
  14. ^ a b "Who is 'Dirty Harry', the top ISI man Imran Khan 'fears'". May 10, 2023 – via The Times of India.