ISLAMABAD, May 4: Lieutenant General Javed Nasir, who led Pakistan's powerful military intelligence agency ' unA-r rfepored I‘r»micr Nawaz Sharif, has been fired, a Defence Ministry official said Tuesday, reports AFP. Xinhua.

Nasir was removed from active service on Monday after leading the Inter-Services Intelligence (IS1) for 13 months. He has already been replaced by Lieutenant General Javed Ashraf (81), who assumed the office of Director General of ISI on Monday, the official said.

Sources here said Nasir was fired six months ahead of expected retirement.

Nasir was considered close to Sharif, whose attempts to clip the Presidency's sweeping powers led to his government dismissal on April 18.