Amid fresh challenges on national and international fronts, Lieutenant General Zaheer ul-Islam took over as new chief of Inter Service Intelligence (ISI), the premier spy agency of Pakistan. The 56-year old Zaheer was appointed by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Chief of Army Staff Ashfaq Pervez Kayani's recommendation after General Pasha's retirement to lead the spy agency.
Zaheer has served as the Corps Commander of Karachi and GCO Murree. He has also been honoured with Hilal-e-Imtiaz. He took over ISI at a time when the agency is facing intense media flak for undertaking activities that do not come under its purview, with allegations flying over political wheeling-dealing and human-rights abuses.