Know about Prince Muqrin, intelligence chief who is going to become Saudi King

New Delhi: Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah has appointed his half-brother and the country's former intelligence chief Prince Muqrin bin Abdul Aziz as the deputy crown prince, paving the way for him to become a future monarch. “Prince Muqrin will receive oath of allegiance as crown prince in case the position becomes vacant, and as king in case the positions of king and crown prince become vacant,” a royal decree issued by King Abdullah said yesterday. Prince Muqrin, 68, the second deputy premier, is the youngest son of the Kingdom's founder King Abdul Aziz Al-Saud. The appointment makes him the next in line to ascend the Saudi throne after 89-year-old King Abdullah and 78-year-old Crown Prince Salman, deputy premier and minister of defence. King Abdullah ascended the throne on August 1, 2005, upon the death of his half-brother King Fahd. King Abdullah has emphasized that nobody would be allowed to change the appointment of Prince Muqrin as deputy to the crown prince or replace him since the Allegiance Council, the body responsible for determining future succession to the throne of Saudi Arabia, has approved his new appointment. Prince Muqrin has held many important positions in the government, including director of intelligence and governor of Hail and Madinah. He graduated with a degree in aeronautics from the Britain's RAF College in Cranwell in 1968 and also acquired a master's degree in military sciences. He has also served in several positions in the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) until 1980, when he was appointed as the governor of Hail. He was born in 1945 and has served as an advisor to King Abdullah. Prince Muqrin went to elementary school in the capital Riyadh and joined the Saudi Royal Air Force in 1964. From 1980 to 1999 he served as the governor of Hail province and was later appointed as the governor of Madinah.In 2005, King Abdullah appointed Prince Muqrin as director general of Saudi Arabia's intelligence agency Al Mukhabarat Al A'amah. During his tenure, he organized a conference on combating internet militancy, particularly used by al Qaeda in 2007.He further declared that Al Mukhabarat al A'amah would set a website to inform citizens about threats to security. He also stated that the organization would be restructured to combat with AQAP. He successfully expelled Islamist militants from Saudi Arabia. He was then replaced in 2007 due to his proper handling and different approach to sensitive issues.He was actively involved in political reconciliation efforts in Pakistan during the military rule of General Pervez Musharraf when Sharif was deported from Pakistan.Muqrin has a very positive image among Saudi people because he is known for never been involved in corruption practices and any other malpractice.