ISLAMABAD, NOV 24, (DNA) -The farewell reception of Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif is underway at the Prime Minister House on Thursday.

The reception —being hosted by the PM Nawaz Sharif himself — is being attended by all four senior Lieutenant Generals, DG ISI Lt. Gen Rizwan Akhtar and other high-level military officials and federal ministers.

A one-on-one meeting between the premier and Gen Raheel was also held on the occasion.

On Wednesday sources had told Geo News that  the defence ministry has sent a summary for the appointment of new military leadership to the premier.

The summary requested the PM to appoint a new COAS and Joint Chief of Staff Committee Gen Rashid Mahmood, as both of them are to retire on Nov 29.

Sources said that summary named four senior army officials. It emerged that Chief of General Staff Lt Gen Zubair Hayat currently tops the senior-most list of Pakistan Army, followed by Corps Commander Multan Lt Gen Ishfaq Nadeem Ahmad,

Corps Commander Bahawalpur Lt Gen Javed Iqbal Ramday and Inspector General of Training and Evaluation Lt Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, in descending order.

Earlier today, General Raheel Sharif visited Bara Tehsil of the Khyber Agency and addressed members of the tribal Jirga.

He said that India had staged a ‘drama’ of surgical strike. “If India conducts a surgical strike we will give such a response that lessons of the Pakistan Army will be taught in Indian courses,” the Army chief was quoted as saying.

The Army chief also added that he would be handing over command of the Pakistan Army to the next Chief of Army Staff on November 29.

During the visit, General Raheel Sharif inaugurated the Shahid Afridi stadium.

The Prime Minister, while hosting a farewell reception for the Army Chief at the PM House, said that family of General Raheel Sharif are known for the dedication and defence for the nation.

He said that General Sharif had served as a exemplary solider and commander of the armed forces, who worked for the elimination of terrorism and restoring peace in the country, and has proved beyond doubt that he is one of the finest military leaders of this generation.

“It was under his leadership that Pakistan tackled the menace of internal threats, successfully established the writ of the state, and reclaimed every inch of territory under our sovereign control.”

He further added Pakistan can take pride in the Operation Zarb-e-Azab which is recognised as the most robust and successful anti-terrorism operation anywhere in the world, and had made the world aware of our unflinching resolve to fight terrorism.

“I must appreciate that General Raheel Sharif led from the front. We found him on the front lines of our forces repeatedly boosting the morale of our jawans and young officers.”

Nawaz Sharif said that General Raheel Sharif has also dedicated to the care of the families of the martyrs as token of respect for their services to the country.

He concluded that he had took his advice, worked together and the nation was much safer than in 2013 and will continue to do seek his advice.

The Army Chief thanked the Prime Minister for the kind words and for his support.

The top civilian and military leadership was present at the occasion.

This included Chief of Naval Staff Staff Admiral Muhammad Zakaullah, Chief of Air Staff Air Marsall Sohail Aman, Director General ISI Lt. General Rizwan Aktar, Director General ISPR Lt. General Asim Saleem Bajwa, Director General MI, D, Corps Commander and principal staff officers.

The four generals among which the next Army Chief will be selected, Lt. Gen Zubair Hayat, Lt. Gen Ishfaq Nadeem Ahmad, Lt. Gen Javed Iqbal Ramday and Lt. Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa were also present.

=DNA

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