The move followed last week's surprise resignation of army chief General Jehangir Karamat, who was critical of Sharif's political and economic policies.

Two other senior generals followed Karamat. They resigned after being passed over for promotion when Sharif appointed General Pervez Musharraf as new army chief.

Sharif's critics say he is orchestrating the reshuffle of the army to gain control of the military, which has ruled Pakistan for 25 of its 51-year history. It has repeatedly thrown out civilian rulers to take control.

General Ziauddin replaces Lt Gen Nasim Rana, who has not been given a new assignment, the English-language daily, The News

reported today.

An army spokesman said the new chief of the state's premier spy agency comesfrom Sharif's hometown of Lahore, the capital of Pakistan's powerful Punjab province.

The new ISI chief ``is known for his professional competence and upright character,'' said an army spokesman who cannot be identified according to briefing rules.

PTI adds:

The government had earlier appointed a new boss of its ``own choice'' of the Federal Investigating Agency (FIA).

The appointment of a new chief for the Intelligence Bureau (IB) is also awaited after its former head was unceremoniously removed for ``providing wrong information'' about the landing of US missiles inside Pakistani territory during the August US attack on Afghanistan. It had resulted in great embarrassment to the Sharif government.