Lieutenant General Raheel Sharif. PHOTO: INP
On the advice of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, President Mamnoon Hussain approved the promotion of the two officers to the top most military posts in the country.
The Prime Minister hosted a farewell dinner in the honour of outgoing Army Chief General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani in Islamabad on Wednesday night, Radio Pakistan reported.
Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee designate General Rashid Mehmood and COAS-designate General Raheel Sharif also attended the dinner.
The change of command comes with the country facing a daunting array of challenges - a homegrown Taliban insurgency that has claimed thousands of lives, vexed relations with India and the winding-down of the 12-year NATO mission in neighbouring Afghanistan.
Sharif, whose elder brother Major Shabbir Sharif won Pakistan's highest military award, the Nishaan-e-Haider for his martyrdom in the 1971 war with India, will formally take command on Thursday.
A message from the office of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif confirmed Raheel had been made COAS and Rashad had been made CJCSC.
Gen Raheel Sharif,new #Army Chief,commissioned in Oct 76 in battle hardened 6 FF Regt.His brother embraced Shahadat/earned NH in same unit.
— Gen(R) Asim Saleem Bajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) November 27, 2013
Congratulations began to pour in soon after the announcement, with the former president and COAS General (retd) Pervez Musharraf joining in.
Nawaz met Raheel and Rashad at separate meetings earlier today. Both meetings lasted for about half an hour.
Raheel was working as the Principal Staff Officer (PSO) to General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani as well as the Inspector General Training and Evaluation (IGT&E).
Rashad was working as the PSO to Kayani as well as the Chief of General Staff (CGS).
Seniority wise, Raheel ranks third among the list of generals considered as likely to get the position.
Hearing good things abt new chiefs. Can someone tell me, did PM stick 2 his promise and appoint according 2 seniority? #ArmyChief #Pakistan
— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) November 27, 2013
Departing commander Kayani has served as army chief since 2007 and has been given much credit for resisting the temptation to meddle overtly in politics.
When he confirmed his retirement last month he stressed that the armed forces "fully support and want to strengthen" democracy.
Kayani will be stepping down on November 29 after six years. He had proposed the names of Rashad as his successor and Lieutenant General Haroon Aslam as CJCSC.
Service history
Lieutenant General Raheel Sharif
• Commander, Gujranwala XXX Corps (as three-star/Lt General)
• Commandant of Pakistan Military Academy, Kakul (as two-star/Maj General)
• General Officer Commanding, Lahore (as two-star/Maj General)
Bio data of Gen #Raheel Sharif pic.twitter.com/lj87xTHKq3
— Gen(R) Asim Saleem Bajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) November 27, 2013
Lieutenant General Rashad Mehmood
• Commander, Lahore IV Corps (as three-star/Lt General)
• DG-CTW at the ISI (where he essentially re-established the pivotal Counterrorism, or 'C' Branch, of Aabpara)
• Military Secretary to Nawaz Sharif-era president, Rafiq Tarar (as one-star/Brigadier)
• UN Brigade Commander (as one-star/Brigadier)
New CJCSC, Gen Rashad's profile pic.twitter.com/r0bwaI5nQv
— Gen(R) Asim Saleem Bajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) November 27, 2013
COMMENTS (100)
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nawaz sharif kaom kagadaar bawafa badaynat basamag silly becoz of taking bad decisions this is not good 4 senority or kaoom or public plz be in mind that pak is a cricing country plz take good decision in fevour of senourity
Dont envy his job at all.
I served under Gen Raheel, He is a true gentleman and humane person, defiantly better than his both seniors A true professional soldier who would definitely be a very fine COAS.
he looks like Saddam's first replica..
Once again history of appointment of junior by ignoring the senior Lt. Generals as COAS has been repeated and the same mistake Nawaz Sharif committed when Nawaz Sharif appointed Musharraf whereas Musharraf was junior.Strongly hope that this new army chief shall support only and only true,better and welfare democratic government and system in Pakistan,and shall make Pakistan a real and practical sovereign,prosperous and peaceful country for every one from common man to leaders,not the corrupt politicians and leadership as ex army chief Kayani has been done in his office's tenure on the name of democracy and constitution....
congratulation to Gen Raheel for becoming new Army chief. whose blood is also mixed with this soil
@RUKHSAR: well said
keep up the gud job
It is not easy to choose a grand leader from the pickles of the staff officer Generals in the midst of the country facing foreign aggression and internal divisions and unrests..If the new man choosen is able to undedrtake necessary reforms so as to make Pakistan military as a fighting force of professionals and not martyrs, to defend the country from the foreign enemy then Sharif preference would not go in waste second time.
Rex Minor
@Ali: Three senior most generals are presented by the Army Chief to PM for promotion. Gen Tariq was fifth in Seniority even Junior to current DG-ISI Zaheer ul Islam, his selection would mean that every candidate of COAS would have to retire including DG-ISI. That would have created much more hovac into the army.
I am surprised that mian saab hasn't learned his lesson. Why didnt he choose the senior most is mind boggling ..... no one speak against the decision because no one wants to ruin their relationship with the army
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif definitely working to structure back Pakistan on single page. The armed forces must work with politically elected Nawaz Sharif. Armed forces must respect the seat of prime minister to put trust back in continuity of political leadership as well as political process. Lets move Forward with forward thinking. Lets concentrate on good primary schooling for all. We are one nation called Pakistan. My way...My Pakistan.
wellcome sir ,u have pointed out rite analysis. pak has internal challenges than external. if u wish and strive to make pak a land of peace and pure. plz ensure fighting terrorism , by removing fake mob sims and issuing them like post paid or on thumb impression recognised by nadra system , computerizing all vehicle record and compueter checking at toll plazaa and registering FIR on cnic numbers especially of terrorims related cases. no fake sims , no fake registration and recognition of terrorists by nadra system . make it possible sir plz
So General Tariq was left out because Pathans aren't allowed to rise to power, despite being the best man for the job. Call it lahoreistan!
-Sharif’s elder brother, Shabbir Sharif, was a course-mate of General (rtd) Pervez Musharraf
-Over the years, (Raheel) Sharif climbed up the military ladder mentored by Musharraf who handed him command of the 11th Infantry Division in Lahore. (excerpts from the Dawn news)
I hope NS has read this!
The Army does not work like civilian setups.Promotions are not a simple process and the fact that Gen Raheel Sharif has made it to a General means he is a man of many qualities .Lets give him a chance to prove himself worthy of this country before we start criticizing him
one of the Sharif is going to rule pakistan for a long long time
What happened to much promised promise of seniority?
Lets now rename Pakistan as "Sharifistan" and get it over with.
aree, now until last week I was all over in media with saying no army chief, no law minister, no CJ, Mian saab elected every one in 1 day, see how powerful is our azaan. technocrat and patriotic general
@khjunaid: I sure hope that this new army chief is a professional and not some power hungry dictator like Musharraf; The near decade under Musharraf almost destroyed the nation.
@Khan: Most of my Pukhtoon friends smell so much racism when they speak. Sindhis and Pathans are two of the most racist ethnicities of Pakistan that can't think anything beyond the paradigm of their race.
So another addition to the kitchen cabinet of Sharif & Co. Why am I not surprised?
Well we all are happy because l love majir aziz bhati shaheed, majir shabir shaheed and may be balke dua hey k ye appne shaheedoen ki tarag mulk ki hiffazat ksrein Allah jisko chahey eizzat de ye sab ALlah ki marzi se hota hey
@fariq:
You solved my problem. I have been thinking where I have seen this guy before? Now that you remind us of Saddam Hussain? Thank you.
What a brave man Saddam was? Lets hope, following the foot steps of Saddam, he will first attack afghanistan and then will order to shoot down drones. LOL.
@Pankaj:
yes,"punk"aj you are absolutely write in you comment, as far as concern to your comment i must say middle class mind think like this.....Pakistan is always 1000 steps high in every field than INDIA............or others.......
So now, when is the coup planned ?
Deactivated mode: Pervez (Musharraf, Kayani and Elahi).
Activated mode: Sharif (Nawaz, Raheel and Shahbaz).
@Pakistaniloyalist: at least try to be behave little better than our sowrn enemies[indians]
Akhter Baloch, well without disputing the credibility of your information, it shows nothing, but speaks about a non professional army and poor institutional practices. If that would be the case, then better blame army not him.
For all the pseudointellectuals musing if he enjoys repsect or not, well he brings a repute of morality with him which is very much popular in the lower cadre and as far as being battle hardened is concerned i think FF regt always reaches the battle ground before all others in war, suffice it to say laurels come with time n the battalion he comes from
So three Sharif's would lead the foreign policy of #Pakistan Nawaz Sharif, Raheel Sharif & Shahbaz Sharif :P
Nawaz Sharif-Shahbaz Sharif-Raheel Sharif-Pakistan Sharfi.!!
Another Position for Punjabi's...........PAKISTAN is a joke and Democracy in Pakistan is a Monarchy of Sharif Family.
Congratulations, General Sharif! Wish you every success in killing the menace of terrorism. Also wish you (and Indian COAS) succeed in maintaining peace at LoC. Regards.
Today, Pakistan officially lost the war with Taliban. One by one Nawaz sharif is destroying all institutions.
@khjunaid: 10000000000 million times i recommond your comment. "TRUE"
No one is better than Musharraf as army chief of Pakistan!!!!.....
For some odd reason, the new COAS resembles PM Gillani in the picture published by ET...
Oh' His picture reminds me "Saddam Hussain's" face...........
Raheel Sharif. Nawaz Sharif. Shahbaz Sharif. Omer Sharif. Babra Sharif. TOO MANY SHAREEFS IN THE COUNTRY YO!
@ali ahmed
Umm He's from Gujrat. Geez some people just love to complain for nothing...
Here he goes another "Sharif". O’ Pakistan stay alive.
@Saad: Sharif Trika.......... Welocme Gen. Sharif and best wishes.
"Sharif, Sharif Sharif..." Charity begins at home!!!
another Shareef from Lahore......
@Saad:
Neither did Zia or Musharraf ...
In Pakistan few Sharif.. Like Nawaz Sharif, Shahbaz Sharif, Umer Sharif, Babra Sharif... a new entry Raheel Sharif...best of luck sir..
@Uza Syed
When a general becomes COAS or CJSC he automatically gets a 3 year extension.
Mr NS thinks everyone with the last name "Sharif" can be trusted ! :D
@akhtar Baloch:
How do you know he has no respect in army? what rank in military you are working or have worked. Stop your non sense.
Two sharifs is company, three sharifs is crowd. Are we strong enough to tolerate all this "sharafat"
@Uza Syed:
Dear, you have misunderstood. General Shareef would have retired on October, 2014 had he not been appointed as COAS. Now he will serve the three year term of COAS.
Pakistan name should change to Sharifistan :S
He doesn't look like a dictator material. I would have preferred general tariq khan or general haroon aslam as coas
Shahbaz Shareef, Nawaz Shareef and Raheel Shareeef...
This Very Unfair to Pakistan Navy the position of Chairman of Joint Chief of Staff Committee (CJCSC) should have gone to Admiral Muhammad Asif Sandila, this is 2nd time Nawaz Sharif taken position from Navy to Army
I wonder why? Admiral Muhammad Asif Sandila Should Resign Now.
God may help those loyal to the country.
Damn he looks like Saddam Hussein..
@akhtar Baloch:
What is the source of your information that the new COAS got to the top and became COAS just because of the wartime laurels of his brother? And while you are at it, please give us a first hand account that the guy does not enjoy any respect for himself in the army.
I am no supporter of the Army but just curious as to how you have managed to come up with this observation.
The guy got a mustache ;)
Much better choice than Kayani 2.0 General Rashad Mahmood.
Is that a temporary arrangement? Is this man not retiring in October 2014? I'm not very impressed, is the PM asking the others to prove being good boys in the next 11 months and then at that point the real COAS would be chosen. Until then, this man can chauffer PM around with hopes for extension like Kayani did hoping to be appointed enhanced CJS and another extension.
Good luck Sharif Trio
Let's hope this the beginning of a really new chapter in our miserable history, in which the Army and the People's representatives work together to transfer policy making from the Army to the Civilians. This is the only way we can ever hope to progress. (by the way, any relation to the Sharifs?)
congrats!! last name sounds familiar
One Sharif overthrowing another ... this should be good ! Poetic even !
Lessons not learned.....He is third in seniority list.... so was Musharraf :)
Welcome, all your 'Aziz ham watani' have been waiting for your arrival, now fulfil your Oath and defend and protect Pakistan from all threats whether internal or external and do it HONESTLY even if in your honest observation Pakistan and its people are threatened by political charlatans of various hues under diverse covers and names.
Another Sharif.. hmmm
The general impression about him is that he isn't a "war-time" person and i thought we need one in such dire situation. His better relations with Nawaz Sharif helped him getting the nod over others but still best of luck.
Did pentagon approve??
God help us:
We now have a chief who has got to the top because of the achievements of his brother and has little or no respect in the army for himself.
We now have CJCSC who has only been appointed because of his affiliations with the Sharifs from his time in Lahore.
Prepare for a tumultuous next few years brothers and sisters
Another 'Sharif' on a very high position :)
The name says it all 'Sharif'
He does'nt look like a dictator or does he ?