President of National Defence University and former Director General of the country's premier intelligence agency, Lieutenant General Rizwan Akhtar has requested for early retirement from Pakistan Army. According to the sources, Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa has accepted his request for premature retirement. The sources said that Lieutenant General Akhtar had made the request "due to some pressing personal commitments" and also pleaded "those who know him to avoid speculation in any domain."
The former director general of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) was due to retire in October next year but the three-star general has got "early release" after serving in the armed forces for around 35 years. According to his resignation letter, "Dear All, it's with a heavy heart but with great satisfaction, that I hang my uniform on the 9th October 2017 after close to 35 years of dedicated active commissioned service. It has been a matter of great pride and honour for me to have served this Great Army.
"I would like to place on record, my sincere gratitude and appreciation for all my seniors, comrades, staff and my family to have provided required guidance and support through my journey in the Army. I have many people to thank for the support provided to become what I am today," he said, adding: "I have requested for premature release due to some pressing personal commitments and want everyone knowing me, to respect my decision and not succumb or resort to speculation in any domain. I shall be available for any service in the Army whenever needed."
Lieutenant General Rizwan was commissioned in the Frontier Force Regiment in September 1982. According to the ISPR, he is a graduate of Command and Staff College Quetta and the National Defence University (NDU) Islamabad. He also went to the United States for a war course. Lieutenant General Rizwan has also commanded an infantry brigade and division in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) and also served as DG Pakistan Rangers Sindh and director general of the ISI.