-- Rashid becomes CJCSC
-- Haroon superseded
Reliable sources said the consent of Army General Kayani was not taken for the appointment of new chief of army staff.
The notification issued by Ministry of Defence states that Lieutenant-General Raheel Sharif and Lieutenant-General Rashid Mahmood have been promoted to the rank of General with effect from Thursday (Today). However, both the Generals will take up their new assignments on Friday, the day the current Army chief retires.
Lieutenant-General Raheel was serving as Inspector General Training and Evaluation whereas, Lieutenant-General Mahmood as Chief of General Staff. Sharif holds the Hilal-i-Imtiaz military and is the younger brother of the late Major Shabbir Sharif, who received Nishan-i-Haider for his bravery in the 1971 war.
The President approved the summary of promotions and new appointments in army as he is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. Raheel's selection as army chief implies that frontrunner and the senior most military officer Lieutenant-General Haroon Aslam, currently serving as Chief of Logistic Staff, has been superseded.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's decision to appoint General Sharif as COAS was announced in a statement.
The new army chief certainly will be faced with policy challenges, as well as the country's war with domestic Taliban insurgency.
Former DG ISI, Hamid Gul said that Prime Minister did not keep his words as he promised that most senior Army General would be awarded the post of Chief of Army Staff.
According to the ISPR, Lieutenant General Raheel Sharif, Hilal-i-Imtiaz (Military) hails from a martial stock. He was born in Quetta on 16 June 1956 to Major and Mrs Muhammad Sharif. He is the younger brother of Major Shabir Sharif, NH, SJ and Captain Mumtaz Sharif, Sbt. He is an alumnus of Government College Lahore, and Pakistan Military Academy from where he passed out with 54th PMA Long Course. He was commissioned in October 1976 in the battle hardened and renowned 6th Battalion, the Frontier Force Regiment in which his elder brother had embraced Shahadat.
As a young officer, he performed his duties in Gilgit in an Infantry Brigade and also served as Adjutant of Pakistan Military Academy. He did Company Commander's Course from Germany and subsequently served in the prestigious School of Infantry and Tactics as an instructor. He attended the Command and Staff College Canada, graduating with a distinction.
The officer carries with him a vast experience of Command, Staff and Instructional appointments. He served as the Brigade Major of an Infantry Brigade and has commanded two infantry units ie 6 Frontier Force Regiment at Kashmir along LOC and 26 Frontier Force Regiment along the Sialkot Border. He remained on the faculty of the Command and Staff College, Quetta and attended Armed Forces War Course at National Defence University, Islamabad in 1998. As a Brigadier, he has commanded two Infantry Brigades, including an Independent Infantry Brigade Group. The General has had the honour of being the Chief of Staff of two Corps, ie 30 Corps and 12 Corps. He is also a graduate of the prestigious Royal College of Defence Studies, United Kingdom.
He has been the General Officer Commanding of an Infantry Division and the Commandant of prestigious Pakistan Military Academy. As a Lieutenant General he served as Corps Commander 30 Corps for two years before taking over as Inspector General Training and Evaluation in which capacity he oversaw the training of Pakistan Army. His stewardship resulted in fructification of Pakistan Army's operational thought and doctrinal response to the much vaunted Cold Start doctrine of Indian Army. The general is married and has two sons and a daughter. He is an avid reader and enjoys hunting and swimming.
Lieutenant General Rashid Mahmood, HI (M) was commissioned in May 1975 in Baloch Regiment. He has attended Company Commander Course from France and is a graduate of Command & Staff College Canada, National Defence College, Islamabad. The General Officer has varied experience of Command, Staff and Instructional appointments. His major appointments include Platoon Commander, Pakistan Military Academy, Brigade Major Infantry Brigade, Instructor at Command & Staff College and National Defence College. He has remained Chief of Staff Bahawalpur Corps and Military Secretary to the President. The General Officer has commanded two Infantry Battalions, two Infantry Brigades and United Nations contingent at Congo, Infantry Division at Jhelum, Director General at Inter Service Intelligence Directorate, Islamabad and Commander Lahore Corps. After commanding the Corps, he took over as Chief of General Staff in January 2013. The General Officer has been conferred with Hilal-i-Imtiaz (Military).