ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Finally much-awaited and crucial appointments of General Qamar Javed Bajwa as the New Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and General Zubair Mahmood Hayat as the Chairman Joint Chief of Staff Committee (CJCSC) brought speculations about Pakistan army key posts to an end on Saturday.
Both the lieutenant generals were promoted to the rank of four-star generals.
President Mamnoon Hussain made the appointments and promoted Lt General Zubair Mahmood Hayat and Lt General Qamar Javed Bajwa to the rank of General on the advice of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif.
Meanwhile, both the newly-appointed COAS and CJCSC held separate meetings with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at the PM House in Islamabad. The prime minister congratulated both the generals on their promotions.
It comes as the General Rashad Mahmood relinquished his Charge today as the CJCSC after 41 years of meritorious service in Pakistan army while General Raheel Sharif is set to retire on November 29 as the COAS.
Seniority wise, General Zubair Mahmood Hayat was the most senior general in Pakistan army whereas General Qamar Javed Bajwa was at number four.
General Zubair Mahmood Hayat was currently serving as the Chief of General Staff (CGS) while General Qamar Javed Bajwa was the Inspector General Training and Evaluation at the army’s general headquarters in Rawalpindi.
The newly appointed 16th COAS General Qamar Javed Bajwa belongs to the infantry’s Baloch Regiment is from the 62nd MPA Long Course. He has commanded the 10 Corps which is responsible for the area along the Line of Control (LoC), and has extensive experience of handling affairs in Kashmir and the northern areas of the country.
General Qamar Javed Bajwa also served with a United Nations mission in Congo as a Brigade Commander. He also remained the Commandant of the Infantry School in Quetta.
On the other hand, General Zubair Hayat is from the artillery and the serving CGS. Previously, he was posted as Director General of the Strategic Plans Division (SPD).
