PESHAWAR: After more than a month’s wait, Lieutenant General Faiz Hameed finally took charge of the army’s Peshawar Corps, the military’s media wing said in a statement on Monday.

“Lieutenant General Nauman Mahmood handed over command of Peshawar Corps to Lieutenant General Faiz Hameed today at Corps Headquarters Peshawar,” said the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

Before taking charge Lt Gen Hameed was heading the country’s premier spy agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

The ISPR had issued transfer orders for Lt Gen Hameed on October 6 and announced Lt Gen Nadeem Anjum as the new ISI chief.

Read more: PM Imran Khan appoints Lt Gen Nadeem Anjum as DG ISI

However, the Prime Minister Office (PMO) did not approve the appointment which resulted in a stand-off between the government and the military.

The deadlock had gripped the nation and was a topic of hot debate and discussion in the media as well as at every talk show on the leading television channels.

The issue was much debated as the delay in the appointment had caused problems in the army’s routine postings announced on October 6.

As per the notification, Lt Gen Anjum was supposed to relinquish the charge as corps commander Karachi and hand over the reins to Lt Gen Muhammad Saeed.

However, Lt Gen Saeed was unable to leave his post of president National Defence University, which created further problems.

Read more: Delay over ISI chief’s appointment tells about civil-military relations, say experts

Due to this issue, Lt Gen Nauman Mahmood could not relinquish the command of the Peshawar corps as his posting for president NDU was not vacant.

Not only this, Lt Gen Mahmood could not leave the post as Lt Gen Faiz was not directed to leave his seat at the ISI and take over the command in Peshawar.

However, 20 days after the appointments were announced the PMO finally released the notification designating Lt Gen Anjum as director-general of the ISI.

“The prime minister has seen and approved the appointment of PA-27007 Lt Gen Nadeem Ahmed Anjum, HI (M) as director general Inter-Services Intelligence, with effect from November 20, 2021, from the panel of officers at para 6 of the summary,” read the notification.

Read more: Lt Gen Nadeem appointed DG ISI, Lt Gen Faiz posted Peshawar corps commander

The notification came after PM Imran met Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa for the “final round of consultations” on the key appointment.

“The meeting was part of the ongoing consultation process between the PM and chief of army staff about the timing of change of command in ISI and selection of the new DG ISI,” tweeted the PM Office.

The PMO confirmed that PM Imran during the process of the appointment “interviewed all the nominees” for the post.