Pakistan appoints ex-spy master General Munir as new army chief

Gen Syed Asim Munir (AP Photo/W.K. Yousufzai)

Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has named the country’s former spy chief as head of the military, the information minister said, ending months of speculation about the new appointment.

The army has historically wielded huge influence in Pakistan, ruling it for half of its 75-year history, and also oversees its nuclear programme.