General Sahir Shamshad Mirza NI(M) HI(M) (Urdu: ساحر شمشاد مرزا) is a four-star general in the Pakistan Army, currently serving as the 18th Chairman of The Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee[3] appointed to the post on 27 November 2022.[4] Prior to his appointment as Commander of X Corps at Rawalpindi, he previously served as 35th Chief of General Staff until he was succeeded by Azhar Abbas.[5][6]
Sahir was born to Shamshad Mirza in Mulhal Mughlan, a small village located in Chakwal District. Sahir lost his parents at a young age which led to him being raised as an orphan.[7]
Sahir was commissioned into the 8th Sind Regiment of the Pakistan Army after completing the 76th Pakistan Military Academy course on 10 September 1987. He has held commands such as adjutant general at the GHQ, Commander X Corps and Director General for Military Operations.[8] During his assignment at Military Operations, he commanded 40th Infantry Division in Okara.[9]
He graduated from the Pakistan Military Academy, Command and Staff College, Quetta and National Defence University, Pakistan. He also received his M.Sc. degree in Global Security from Cranfield University, United Kingdom.[1]
On 8 December 2022, Sahir received the Nishan-e-Imtiaz (military) award alongside COAS Asim Munir from Arif Alvi at the Aiwan-e-Sadr. The top military officials were given the awards in front of Prime Minister of Pakistan, diplomats, lawmakers, and federal ministers.[10]
During his illustrious military career, he served on various Command, Staff and Instructional assignments. His major staff appointments include Brigade Major of two Infantry Brigades, General Staff Officer Grade-1 (Plans) at Pakistan Contingent United Nations Mission Sierra Leone, Director Military Operations and Director General Military Operations, Vice Chief of General Staff, Adjutant General and Chief of General Staff at the General Headquarters. In his instructional appointments, he has been on the faculty of the School of Infantry and Tactics, Quetta, Pakistan Military Academy (PMA), Kakul and Command and Staff College, Quetta. General Sahir Shamshad Mirza has commanded an Infantry Battalion, each in North Waziristan and Shaqma War Zone, and Infantry Brigade along the Working Boundary, an Infantry Division in Operation Al-Mizan and Command of 10 Corps.
General Sahir Shamshad Mirza belongs to Malhal Mughlan, a town of Chakwal district in Punjab. It is said that his father died in his early age and a few months after his father's death, his mother also left this world. After losing his parents, General Sahir Shamshad made his own life through hard work.