General Nadeem Raza attends farewell to arms ceremony on eve of retirement

RAWALPINDI: Farewell to arms ceremony of the outgoing Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Nadeem Raza was held at the Joint Staff Headquarters on Friday, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.

The military's media wing said that General Raza is retiring on November 26 after 41 years of illustrious military service. The farewell ceremony was attended by former CJCSC’s and senior officers of the tri-services.

General Raza, in the farewell address, thanked Allah Almighty for enabling him to discharge his duties to the best of his abilities with honesty, justice and dignity.

He applauded the sacrifices rendered by the armed forces in defending the motherland, the ISPR said.

The outgoing CJCSC reiterated that the defence of the country is impregnable and gallant soldiers will not hesitate in making it even more formidable.

A smartly turned out tri-services contingent presented guard of honour to the chairman joint chiefs of staff committee on arrival at the venue.

Gen Sahir Shamshad Mirza to take over as new CJCSC

General Sahir Shamshad Mirza will take over from General Raza after his appointment.

A day earlier, uncertainty surrounding key appointments in the military ended after President Arif Alvi signed the summary and approved the appointment of General Asim Munir as the next chief of army staff and Gen Mirza as CJCSC.

"President Dr Arif Alvi has promoted Lieutenant General Sahir Shamshad Mirza HI(M) to the rank of General with immediate effect and appointed him as Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee with effect from 27th November 2022. The President promoted Lieutenant General Syed Asim Munir HI(M) to the rank of General with immediate effect and appointed him as Chief of Army Staff with effect from 29th November 2022," said a statement issued by the President's Secretariat.

It added that the promotions and appointments have been made under article 243(4) (a) and (b) and Article 48(1) of the Constitution of Pakistan. Both articles are to be read with Sections 8-A and 8-D of the Pakistan Army Act 1952.

In this regard, the President has signed the summary received in his office.

Both — Gen Munir and General Mirza — met PM Shehbaz Sharif and President Alvi, separately, after the confirmation of their appointment as the new chief of army staff and joint chief of staff committee.