Pakistan names new Intelligence Bureau chief

Islamabad: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has appointed Dr Sulaiman Khan as director-general of Pakistan’s civilian intelligence arm — the Intelligence Bureau.

The strategic position had been lying vacant for more than a month, after the retirement of Aftab Sultan.

“Dr Sulaiman Khan, a BS-22 officer of police service of Pakistan, who is serving in Intelligence Bureau, is promoted to BPS-22 in that service with immediate effect. On promotion the officer is transferred and posted as director-general, IB, until further order,” a notification issued by Establishment Division on Monday said.

A career police officer, Khan was heading the IB’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) division as joint director on deputation before his promotion as new IB chief.

He has to his credit a number of counterterrorism and counterintelligence operations in KP. Several significant cases were resolved in his career at IB including the attacks on Peshawar Judicial Complex, attack on Islamabad district courts, Wagah border blast and Peshawar Meena Bazaar blast, which involved dozens of foreign terrorists.

Khan has also been involved in successful operations against Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, 313 Brigade, Jamaat ul Ahrar and Al Qaida in the country, officials saids.

Khan is considered to be the suitable choice for the intelligence agency’s top job.

However, political experts believe that there are many challenges ahead for the new IB chief with upcoming elections with regards to facilitating the civilian government to deal with multi-pronged issues.

The IB budget for the fiscal year 2018-19 is Rs5.1 billion (Dh162 million) which is slightly higher than the previous year’s allocated budget as the agency overspent Rs2 billion more than the original allocation due to expansion of IB networks in Sindh, Balochistan and KP to deal with issues wide-ranging issues.