Zaheer-ul-Islam


Zaheer-ul-Islam, HI, is a former Director-General of the Inter-Services Intelligence ; he was appointed to the position on 9 March 2012. Islam took over the position from his predecessor Ahmed Shuja Pasha, who left on 18 March. At the time of his appointment, he was serving as the Corps Commander V Corps, Karachi. In 2012, Forbes named him as the world's 52nd most powerful person.

Family

His father retired as a brigadier in the Pakistan Army, while his three brothers and his brother-in-law Major Ejaz Aziz also retired as military officers.
His uncle was Shah Nawaz Khan, a major general in the Indian National Army of Subhas Chandra Bose.

Military career

Zaheerul Islam was commissioned in the Punjab Regiment in the 55th PMA Long Course on 16 April 1977. He served as Corps Commander V Corps in Karachi before the appointment of ISI Chief.
Zaheer served as DG in the ISI before he was promoted as a 3-star general and moved to Karachi as corps commander. He was GOC Murree for some time before coming to the ISI. He also served as Chief of Staff in the Army Strategic Force Command for 2004–2006