Gen Raheel reaches Riyadh to head IFA

Govt issues NOC; preparations start to send 5,000 Pakistanis to Saudi Arabia

ISLAMABAD: Former Chief of the Army Staff General (retd) Raheel Sharif reached Riyadh on Friday to head the Islamic Forces Alliance (IFA).

He was issued a No Objection Certificate (NOC) by the federal government to join as the head of the proposed Islamic Forces Alliance (IFA).

Minister for Defence Khawaja Asif, while talking to media here on Friday, confirmed the news and said the NOC in favour of Gen (retd) Raheel was issued a couple of days ago.

“The NOC was issued in his favour after complying with all the codal formalities,” he said.

Responding to a query, he said Gen (retd) Raheel had already left the country for Saudi Arabia to assume the charge as the chief of IFA.

According to reports, preparation for departure of 5,000 Pakistanis for Saudi Arabia has also started.

Gen Raheel served the Pakistan Army as Chief of the Army Staff till November 2016 and earned accolades especially for taking the country out of the grip of terrorism during his three-year term.

His contributions to make the Pakistan Army a battle hardened force would be remembered for a long time.