PM Shehbaz Sharif heaps praise on COAS Asim Munir as he takes command,

RAWALPINDI – The Change of Command ceremony for the chief of army staff took place Tuesday morning at GHQ in Rawalpindi, where General Asim Munir assumed command of Pakistan Army.

General Qamar Javed Bajwa was presented a farewell salute after he passed the baton of command to Gen Asim Munir.

Gen Munir was picked by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to succeed Gen Bajwa last week.

Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, senior serving and retired officers, diplomats as well as government functionaries were in attendance.

Addressing the ceremony prior to handing over the baton of command to Gen Munir, the outgoing COAS congratulated Gen Munir on being appointed his successor and hoped his promotion would be a cause for the progress of the country and the army. He went on to say that his association with Gen Munir goes back 24 years.

“In addition to being a Hafiz-i-Quran, he is a professional, capable and principled officer. I am certain that under his leadership the army will reach new heights of success.”

Reflecting on his military career, Gen Bajwa said the journey which began several decades ago was now coming to an end.

“I am thankful to God that he gave me the opportunity to work for this great army and gave me the opportunity to lead it,” he said.

Gen Bajwa said that the army’s sacrifices were acknowledged by the country’s friends and foes. “I am proud of my army that despite scarce resources, they defend the country’s boundaries from the ice-capped mountains of Siachen to the deserts of Thar.”

Prior to the ceremony, both Gen Bajwa and Gen Munir laid a wreath at the Yadgar-i-Shuhada (Monument to Martyrs) in GHQ and offered fateha.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Tuesday heaped praise on the newly elected Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir.

During the telephonic conversation with the new COAS, Prime Minister Shehbaz expressed his best wishes for Asim Munir and said, “It is a blessing from Allah Almighty to have a chief like you”. The Prime Minister added that he has full confidence in him.

He further said that the leadership of COAS General Munir, will pave the way for strengthening the country‘s defense and increasing the professional capabilities of the Pak Army.

He said, “May Allah help and guide you in meeting the security challenges including protection and security of the motherland and eradicating the menace of terrorism.”

For wishing him ‘all the best‘, COAS Asim Munir expressed his gratitude to PM Shehbaz.