General Raheel Sharif appointed as new Army Chief

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has been appointed Lieutenant General Raheel Sharif as Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS) while Lt. General Rashid Mehmood as Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) on Wednesday.

President Mamnoon Hussain endorsed the PM’s recommendations and promoted both the Lt Generals to General rank.

Earlier on Wednesday, PM Nawaz held meetings separately with the two Lieutenant Generals.

According to sources, matters relating to the security of the country and professional affairs were also discussed in the meetings.

Lieutenant General Raheel Sharif

Prior to this appointment as Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Raheel Sharif was serving as the Inspector General Training and Evaluation at the General Headquarters.

His prior appointments include Commander, Gujranwala XXX Corps, Commandant of Pakistan Military Academy Kakul and General Officer Commanding Lahore.

He is the younger brother of Nishan-i-Haider recipient Major Shabbir Sharif.

Lieutenant General Rashad Mehmood

Prior to his appointment as Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, Lieutenant General Rashad Mahmood was serving as the Chief of General Staff while he has also served as the Corps Commander of Lahore.

He was also the military secretary to former President Rafiq Tarar.

Lt General Mahmood comes from Baloch Regiment and had served under General Kayani as ISI deputy director general.