Security Desk — Nigar Johar, formerly 1-star General, has become 3rd female to be promoted to rank of Major General in Pakistan Army.

The good news was broken through Pakistan Army’s PR agency, Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) portal, where it was announced that as many as 37 Brigadiers have been promoted to Major Generals.

Pakistan is the only Islamic country to have female Major Generals in its ranks. Although limited to Education Corps and Army Medical Corps in the past, combat positions have recently opened up for the women as well.

Shahida Malik became the 1st female 2-star Major General in 2002, setting a first-for the Islamic nation .

 

Brigadier Nigar Johar was serving as  Deputy Commandant, CMH Rawalpindi at the time of her promotion.

In 2013, 24 lady officers passed the Parachute Training School in Peshawar.

After three weeks’ basic airborne training, which included exit, flight and landing techniques, the new paratroopers completed their first jump on Sunday and were given their “wings” by the commander of Special Services Group, Major General Abid Rafique

Female combatants in Pakistan Air Force (PAF) however, is no new trend. In 2006, first batch of female fighter pilots graduated Academy Risalpur. Maryam Mukhtar, a female PAF fighter pilot became the first martyr as she her aircraft malfunctioned. The pilot was posthumously awarded state award as she chose to crash her plane away from a children’s school instead of ejecting to safety herself.

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