ISLAMABAD, Dec 3: The process for scrutinising the files for promotion of brigadiers to major-generals has started in the GHQ and the profiles of the selected brigadiers would then be placed before a final selection board meeting to be held on Jan 17, 2004, sources told Dawn here on Wednesday.

Earlier on Monday, ISPR officials told Dawn that the exact number of brigadiers likely to be promoted could not be given at this stage. A final decision to promote them would be taken by the board depending upon the number of vacancies early next year, an ISPR official said.

Last year, President Gen Pervez Musharraf had presided over the meeting of the final selection board.

According to the statistics available for previous years, 20 brigadiers were promoted to the rank of major-general in 2003, 27 in 2002 and 21 in 2001.

The promotion of brigadiers to major-generals is considered to be an important decision for the Pakistan Army as the two star officers are posted in a wide variety of sensitive appointments including command posts, military board appointments, heads of sensitive organizations and joint services appointments.

Last year, apart from 5 brigadiers of the Army Medical Corps, about 1.3 per cent of some 1050 officers who were granted commission in the Army from 1972 to 1974 were promoted to two star generals.

In the forthcoming selection board, officers in the rank of brigadier from the 49th and 50th PMA Course would be considered for promotion to major-general, the sources said.

The sources said the first meeting of the preliminary selection board, also known as silent board 1 (SB1), has already considered career profiles of the brigadiers fit for promotion. Director-General of Military Intelligence, Director-General of Personal Services and Adjutant-General of the Pakistan Army are reported to have reviewed the career profiles.

However, an ISPR official categorically denied that Silent Board 1 had met. When asked, Major Atiq of the ISPR, said: “For God’s sake! There is no such thing (SB1). Someone has misguided you.”