ISLAMABAD – PM offices makes important statement over COAS General QamarBajwa extension notification. PM office statement clarified that the“reappointment” of Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa hasalready been confirmed in August.
Prime Minister Imran Khan has appointed Lt Gen Nadeem Raza as chairmanJoint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) – a four-star rank position whichis theoretically the highest in Pakistan’s armed forces.
Lt Gen Raza’s appointment was announced on Thursday by the Prime Minister’sOffice in a statement, which also clarified that the “reappointment” ofChief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa has already beenconfirmed in August.
According to the statement, Lt Gen Nadeem Raza, who is serving as the Chiefof General Staff at the General Headquarters, will assume his newassignment on November 27, 2019, when the incumbent CJCSC Gen ZubairMahmood Hayat will retire.
Lt Gen Raza, who was appointed Chief of General Staff earlier this year,had been promoted to the rank of Lt Gen in Dec 2016 when he was serving ascommandant Pakistan Military Academy Kakul. Subsequently, he was madeRawalpindi Corps Commander.
According to the PM Office, the notification for the reappointment ofGeneral Qamar as Chief of Army Staff (COAS) for another tenure had alreadybeen issued on August 19, 2019.
Gen Qamar was set to retire on November 29 on completion of his three-yearterm. However, after the extension he would serve as army chief untilNovember 2022.
The development capped a week of civil-military huddles in which the primeminister met the army chief twice and once with ISI chief Lt Gen FaizHameed.