ISLAMABAD: Social-media claims that Lieutenant General Nauman Zakaria has been appointed Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS) are “false and baseless”, multiple fact-checking accounts found.
Lieutenant General Nauman Zakaria is currently serving as Commander I Corps, also known as Commander Central Command since May 2024. He previously served as Chief of Logistics Staff (CLS) of Pakistan Army at the General Headquarters, Rawalpindi.
*لیفٹنٹ جنرل نعمان زکریا نئے چیف اف ارمی سٹاف پاکستان نامزد*
*سیکیورٹی زرائع*
پاک فوج زندہ باد پاکستان ہمیشہ پائندہ باد #PakistanArmy #PakistanZindabad pic.twitter.com/uMvIZii3J0— 💥 PAK ARMY 💥 (@PAK_Defence_) November 30, 2025
What was claimed?
Posts on X handles such as India Today, Season 4, and Defence Updates circulated messages quoting defence sources saying Lieutenant General Nauman Zakaria has been appointed Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff.
These claims rapidly spread across social platforms and were shared by accounts previously known for polarising content. However, independent fact-checkers have concluded that the rumours originated from RAW-backed propaganda accounts engaged in a coordinated attempt to push false narratives about Pakistan’s military leadership.
What the checks found
Regional verification pages labelled the posts “fake”, identifying them as part of a disinformation campaign targeting Pakistani institutions. Fact-checking organisations noted:
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No official announcement has been made about any change in the post of Chief of Army Staff.
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Pakistan’s military media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), is the sole authority to announce such appointments — and it has issued no such statement.
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There is no credible public record, including government notifications, mainstream media reports, or defence publications, supporting the claim.
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Lt Gen Zakaria continues to serve in his documented corps-level position and has not been elevated to COAS.
The misleading posts, fact-checkers say, were pushed by accounts previously flagged for generating false or politically motivated content about Pakistani officials. Analysts describe the campaign as an attempt to spread confusion and undermine public trust in state institutions.
Verdict
False. There is no reliable evidence in support of the claims.
Multiple fact-checking accounts have flagged the social-media claims as disinformation.
The incumbent Chief of Army Staff, who also serves as the Chief of Defence Forces, remains in office and is scheduled to retire on November 29, 2027, unless his tenure is formally extended.
