Rawalpindi: General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Tuesday handed over the command of Pakistan Army to his successor General Asim Munir.
With the change of command, General Munir has become the 17th Army Chief of Pakistan Army. The baton was handed over to the new Chief of Army Staff in a ceremony held at General Headquarters Rawalpindi.
During the ceremony, the chief guest General Bajwa was presented the guard of honor for the last time as the Army Chief.
Addressing the ceremony, the outgoing Army Chief congratulated his successor, General Asim Munir, on his promotion to the four-star rank and becoming the Chief of Army Staff.
General Bajwa said that I am confident that under his leadership the army will reach new heights and his appointment will prove positive for the country. He added that he was happy to know that he was retiring handing over the army to a capable officer like General Munir.
The change of command ceremony marks the time-honored tradition of a seamless transition of military leadership. Ex-military leaders were also present in the ceremony.
Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu also participated in the ceremony.
Before the ceremony, General Bajwa visited the martyrs’ memorial for the last time as the Army Chief. General Munir also accompanied him in this visit.
General Muneer was selected by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to lead the country’s army on November 24, the same day President Arif Alvi approved the summary of his appointment.
General Asim Munir
General Munir was commissioned in the 23rd Frontier Force Regiment in 1986. He passed out from the 17th Officers Training Course Mangala and was awarded the sword of honour.
He is currently posted as Quartermaster General at General Headquarters.
The designated army chief graduated from the Military School Japan, Command and Staff College Quetta, Malaysian Armed Forces College Kuala Lumpur and National Defense University Islamabad.
The General also holds an MPhil in Public Policy and Strategic Security Management from the National Defense University.
Quartermaster General was also posted as Directing Staff at Command and Staff College Quetta, Brigade Major of Infantry Brigade stationed at Kiel, General Staff Officer, Grade 2, CGS Secretariat and Chief of Staff of Mangala Corps.
General Munir commanded 23 Frontier Force Regiment, Infantry Brigade, Northern Territory, Gilgit as Force Commander and Corps Commander 30 Corps, Gujranwala.
The incoming Army Chief has also been the Director General of Military Intelligence.
In 2018, General Munir was appointed Director General of Inter-Services Intelligence.
After which he was posted as Corps Commander Gujranwala for two years. After heading the Gujranwala Corps, he was posted to his current assignment at GHQ.
General Munir will be the first Army Chief to head both MI and ISI. He will also be the first Army Chief to be awarded the Sword of Honour.
The designated army chief is an avid sportsman, reader and traveller.
