Newly appointed COAS Gen Asim calls on PM

On his first day, army chief discusses matters related to national security with PM Shehbaz

ISLAMABAD:

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Muneer and Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) General Sahir Shamshad Mirza separately called on President Dr Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday.

PM Shehbaz felicitated the new military chief on the assumption of the office, a statement issued by the PM media wing said.

During what was their first meeting after the new army chief took over charge a day earlier, both discussed professional matters as well as those related to national security.

“The nation is happy over your appointment as army chief. The relations of trust and love between the people and armed forces will further strengthen,” the prime minister was quoted as saying.

“The leadership of a competent officer like you will help further improve the professional development of the institution,” the PM maintained.

COAS General Asim Munir thanked the prime minister.

Earlier, PM Shehbaz telephoned the army chief to congratulate him on becoming the head of the military which, he said, was a great honour.

He added it was a blessing from Allah that someone with a high calibre of professional capability was to head the military.

The premier assured the army chief of his full cooperation for defence, security, and safety of the country.

Expressing confidence in the professionalism of the country’s security forces, the PM said the nation was proud of its armed forces’ role in protecting the motherland and countering terrorism.

CJCSC, COAS call on President

The newly appointed CJCSC General Sahir Shamshad Mirza and COAS Gen Asim Muneer also held separate meetings with President Dr Arif Alvi at the Aiwan-e-Sadr focused on professional matters pertaining to army.

Last week, Gen Asim Muni was designated as the country’s 17th army chief while Gen Sahir Shamshad Mirza was appointed as the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff committee. Gen Mirza took charge on Nov 27 while Gen Munir assumed charge on Nov 29.