Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: General Zubair Mehmood Hayat assumed charge of Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Chairman in a simple but impressive ceremony held here at Joint Staff Headquarters Chaklala. Services chiefs, Army Chief designate General Qamar Javed Bajwa, corp commanders, former chairmen Joint Chiefs of Staff committee and families of army officers attended the change of command ceremony.

Theoretically, the CJCSC has to be the senior-most four-star officer from any of the three services — army, navy and air force. However, since the establishment of the NCA, the army has staked a claim to its leadership because it controls key areas of nuclear command and strategic assets. The CJCSC is also the deputy chairman of NCA’s deployment committee, which is headed by the prime minister.

Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif appreciated the cooperation of civil military leaders during his tenure as army chief and said that he had great pride in commanding the most battle hardened army in the world. New army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa will assume his responsibilities today (Tuesday) in a ceremony at GHQ. Outgoing Army Chief General Raheel Sharif will hand over the command to General Bajwa.

According to ISPR, COAS chaired a farewell Corps Commanders Conference at GHQ on Monday. A conference was attended by Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, COAS designate, Corps Commanders and Principal Staff Officers. General Raheel congratulated the Chief of Army Staff designate for his elevation to the rank of General and appointment as COAS.

A formal Change of Command ceremony will be held on 29th November Tuesday, the spokesman said. Earlier, as part of farewell visits, Gen Raheel Sharif, COAS visited HQ Dte Gen ISI, islamabad .On arrival at headquarters, he was received by Lt Gen Rizwan Akhtar, DG ISI.

The COAS paid rich tributes to the sacrifices and success of officers and men of ISI in fighting terrorism and strengthening defence of the motherland. Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif also paid a farewell call on president Mumnoon Husain and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at the presidency and PM House respectively.

The president and PM praised General Raheel Sharif for his valuable services rendered as army chief and extended his best wishes for his post retirement life and happiness for his family. The Army chief thanked the president and prime minister for their cooperation and support during his tenure as army chief.