Raheel Sharif appointed as new Army Chief of Pakistan

Nawaz Sharif, the Prime Minister of Pakistan appointed Lt Gen Raheel Sharif as the new Chief of Army Staff and Lt Gen Rashad Mahmood as the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee. Lt Gen Raheel Sharif and Lt Gen Rashad Mahmood have been promoted to the rank of four-star general.

The generals will take up the new posts from 27 November 2013, the day when the 61 year old Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani will retire from the post of Army Chief. Lt Gen Raheel is currently serving as Inspector General, Training and Evaluation, whereas Lt Gen Mahmood is serving as Chief of General Staff.

The names of the two commanders were recommended by Sharif after endorsement by the President Mamnoon Hussain. Both were promoted to the General rank from Lt. Generals by the President.

The prior appointments of Lt General Sharif include Commander, Gujranwala XXX Corps, Commandant of Pakistan Military Academy Kakul and General Officer Commanding Lahore. Lt Gen Mahmood has served as the Corps Commander of Lahore as well as the military secretary to former President Rafiq Tarar. Mahmood belongs to the Baloch Regiment and had served under General Kayani as ISI deputy director general.