Gen Raheel appointed Army Chief, Gen Rashad CJCSC

ISLAMABAD: On the recommendation of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Lt Gen. Raheel Sharif has been appointed as Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff (COAS) while Lt Gen Rashad Mahmood as Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC).

President Mamnoon Hussain endorsed the PM’s recommendations and promoted both Lt Generals to General rank.

Earlier on Wednesday, PM Nawaz held meetings separately with the two Lieutenant Generals.

According to sources, matters relating to the security of the country and professional affairs were also discussed in the meetings.

PROFILES

Lieutenant General Raheel Sharif

Lt General Raheel Sharif was born in Quetta on 16 June, 1956 to Major and Mrs Muhammad Sharif. He is the younger brother of Major Shabir Sharif, Nishan-e-Haider, Sitara-e-Jurat and Captain Mumtaz Sharif, Sbt.

Lt General Sharif is an alumnus of Government College Lahore and Pakistan Military Academy from where he passed out with 54th PMA Long Course. He was commissioned in October 1976 in the battle hardened and renowned 6th Battalion, The Frontier Force Regiment in which his brother embraced martyrdom.

As a young officer, he performed his duties in Gilgit in an Infantry Brigade and also served as Adjutant of Pakistan Military Academy. He did Company Commander’s Course from Germany and subsequently served in the prestigious School of Infantry and Tactics as an instructor. He attended the Command and Staff College Canada graduating with distinction.

Lt General Sharif carriers with him a vast experience of Command, Staff and Instructional appointments. He served as the Brigade Major of an Infantry Brigade and has commanded two infantry units i.e. 6 Frontier Force Regiment at Kashmir along the Line of Control (LoC) and 26 Frontier Force Regiment along the Sialkot Border. He remained on the faculty of the Command and Staff College, Quetta and attended Armed Forces War Course at National Defence University, Islamabad in 1998.

As a Brigadier, he has commanded two Infantry Brigades, including an Independent Infantry Brigade Group. The Lt. General has had the honour of being the Chief of Staff of two Corps, i.e. 30 Corps and 12 Corps. He is also a graduate of the prestigious Royal College of Defence Studies, United Kingdom.

Lt General Sharif has been the General Officer Commanding of an Infantry Division and the Commandant of prestigious Pakistan Military Academy. As a Lt General he served as Corps Commander 30 Corps for two years before taking over as Inspector General Training and Evaluation in which capacity he oversaw the training of Pakistan Army.

Lt General Sharif is married and has two sons and a daughter. He is an avid reader and enjoys hunting and swimming. He has been conferred with Hilal-i-Imtiaz.

Lieutenant General Rashad Mehmood

Lieutenant General Rashad Mahmood was commissioned in May 1975 in Baloch Regiment. He has attended Company Commander Course from France and is a graduate of Commmad & Staff College, Canada and National Defence College, Islamabad.

The General Officer has varied experience of Command, Staff and Instructional appointments. His major appointments include Platoon Commander, Pakistan Military Academy, Brigade Major Infantry Brigade, Instructor at Command & Staff College and National Defence College. He has remained Chief of Staff Bahawalpur Corps and Military Secretary to the President Rafiq Tarar.

The General Officer has commanded two Infantry Battalions, two Infantry Brigades and United Nations contingent at Congo, Infantry Division at Jhelum, Director General at Inter Services Intelligence Directorate, Islamabad and Commander Lahore Corps. After commanding the Corps, he took over as Chief of General Staff in January, 2013. The General Officer has been conferred with Hilal-i-Imtiaz.

Editorial Note
Profiles of Lt Generals' Raheel Sharif and Rashad Mehmood were obtained from ISPR.