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| Nawaz prefers choice to seniority while selecting new Army chief | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Nov 27: Having become wiser from his mistake of having appointed Gen.Pervez Musharaff as the Army chief in Pakistan,who later toppled the Government in a coup, Nawaz Sharif is said to have given importance to his personal choice instead to seniority while picking up the new Army chief.
After weeks of intense speculation, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has finally made the selection of two senior army officers as chief of Army Staff and Chairman Joint Chief of Staff Committee.
Lt Gen Raheel Sharif is being appointed as the COAS whereas Lt Gen Rashad Mahmood is being appointed as the CJCSC. Raheel is currently serving as Inspector General Training and Evaluation whereas Mahmood is serving as Chief of General Staff.
Both senior military officials met Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif earlier today where the premier conveyed them the decision. The two meetings were viewed as immensely significant as they came a day before General Kayani's retirement from his post of Army chief.
On Nov 28, the two would be promoted to the rank of four star General and at 12 pm on Nov 29, Raheel Sharif will take charge as the Army chief in a change of command ceremony. Mahmood is likely to assume office after the Nov 29 ceremony.
For the occasion, General Kayani has sent out invitations to senior government officials.
Although President Mamnoon Hussain has approved a summary sent by the Prime Minister over the appointments, an official announcement in this regard has, however, not been made.
The selection implies that front runner and the senior most military officer Lt Gen Haroon Aslam, currently serving as chief of Logistic Staff, was ignored for the elevation.
The post of Army chief is arguably the most powerful in Pakistan and anxiety prevailed on who will replace the taciturn, chain-smoking General Kayani, who will step down on Friday after six years at the helm.
General Kayani's retirement from the post comes after rules were relaxed to grant him an extension in July 2010 by the PPP-led coalition government in what then Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said was in the interest of continuity at a time when the war on terror was successfully continuing against elements who wanted to impose a system of their choice on the country.
New Delhi's interest in the new Army chief is linked to the mindset of the new man because in case the new Army chief does not harbour bias against India scope for better tie between the two sides are wide. |
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