The change of command ceremony is underway at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, outgoing Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa will transfer over the military’s command to New COAS General Asim Munir, capping his six-year tenure.
General Qamar Javed Bajwa has arrived at the venue along with his successor Gen Asim Munir.
Gen Bajwa handed over the “baton of command” of the Pakistan Army to Gen Munir during the ceremony.
Last Monday, Shehbaz Sharif, the prime minister, chose Gen Munir to succeed Gen. Bajwa, putting an end to days of rumors about the decision. Gen. Munir will lead the Pakistani Army as its 17th army chief.
Prior to the ceremony, both Gen Bajwa and Gen Munir laid a wreath at Yadgar-i-Shuhada in GHQ and offered fateha.
The GHQ military band opened the ceremony, which got underway shortly after 10 am, by playing a medley of national anthems and folk songs.
General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, is joined by senior active and retired officers, diplomats, and government officials.
The outgoing COAS gave a speech at the ceremony before giving Gen. Munir the reigns of command and expressed his gratitude for the chance to command the Pakistan Army.
Gen Bajwa congratulated Gen Munir on being appointed his successor and hoped his promotion would be a cause for the progress of the country and the army. He went on to say that his association with Gen Munir goes back 24 years.
“In addition to being a Hafiz-i-Quran, he is a professional, capable and principled officer. I am certain that under his leadership the army will reach new heights of success.”
