Pakistan on Wednesday named lt Gen Raheel Sharif, an infantry officer regarded as a moderate, as the new Army chief to succeed hawkish Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani who retires on Friday after serving an extended tenure in the all-powerful post.
The 57-year-old Sharif, who is considered an old India hand and whose elder brother died in the 1971 war with India, was chosen by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to end several months of speculation.lt Gen Rashad Mahmood was named the new Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff Committee. The premier held separate meetings with Mahmood, currently Chief of General Staff, and Sharif, now the Inspector General for Training and Evaluation, here before approving their promotion to the crucial posts.
“On the advice of the Prime Minister and in pursuance of clause 3 of article of constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the President and the supreme commander of the armed forces is pleased to approve the promotion and posting of the two generals, with effect from November 28,” a top official told PTI.Both generals superceded lt Gen Haroon Aslam, currently Chief of logistics Staff and the senior-most general after Kayani. He is scheduled to retire in April.
The 61-year-old Kayani will hang up his boots on Friday after being at the helm of the Army for six years. He was given an unprecedented three-year extension in 2010.