Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Although Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is silent on the appointment of a new army chief, but preparations for the change of command have been started.

The event is likely to take place at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in last week of November.

Sources told Daily Times that Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Rashad Mehmood would retire on November 27. The general is likely to call on President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on November 24.

Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif would retire on November 29, but his farewell meetings with Mamnoon and Nawaz are yet to be finalised.

They added Nawaz had consulted his kitchen cabinet some days ago on the appointment of a new army chief. Some ministers wanted to give extension to General Raheel for his pivotal role in strengthening democracy. While others suggested to appoint a new army chief on merit. The PM would consult his family as well before making any decision, they said further.

“Extension chances are rare now. I think the prime minister would appoint a new army chief on seniority basis. In the third week of this month Defence Secretary Lieutenant General (r) Zameerul Hasan Shah would send a summary to Nawaz carrying three to four names. Nawaz would pick two names or ask for a new summary,” a top government official said.

Chief of General Staff Lieutenant General Zubair Mehmood Hayat is the senior most at the moment. He may be appointed as the new chairman joint chief of staff committee if decision taken on seniority. Lieutenant General Najibullah follows Zubair, but Najib has not commanded the corps. Multan Corps Commander Lieutenant General Ishfaq Nadeem, Bahawalpur Corps Commander Lieutenant General Mustafa Javed Ramday and Training and Evaluation Inspector General Lieutenet General Qamar Javed Bajwa are strong candidates for the army chief’s office.

Sources said that if Nawaz did not give extension then General Raheel Sharif would chair his last corps commanders conference on November 23 or 24.