Pakistan general overlooked for top post resigns

Friday, Nov 29, 2013

Islamabad: Pakistan’s most senior Lieutenant-General Haroon Aslam has resigned, after being overlooked for the top post, as the new army chief prepared to take over command on Friday.

Aslam was at the top of the army seniority list after outgoing Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani.

However, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif appointed Lt-General Raheel Sharif, who ranked third, to succeed Kayani and promoted him to the rank of four-star general.

According to military sources Lt-General Aslam decided to step down over this issue, in keeping with the army traditions.

Aslam was the Chief of Logistics Staff at the Army General Headquarters (GHQ) and was due to retire next year after completion of his tenure.

Another officer above Raheel Sharif on the seniority list was Lieutenant-General Rashad Mahmoud, who has been appointed to the topmost but largely ceremonial post of Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) and also elevated to the rank of four-star general.

General Kayani held a farewell meeting with the corps commanders on Thursday at the GHQ in Rawalpindi, a garrison city adjacent to Islamabad. Officials discussed the country’s internal security situation along with professional matters pertaining to the armed forces.

During the meeting, the corps commanders paid tribute to the services rendered by General Kayani, who relinquished command on Friday after six years at the helm.

Local media quoted sources as saying the corps commanders meeting welcomed the appointment of General Sharif as the new COAS.

General Kayani was also the acting CJCSC after his predecessor, General Khalid Shameem Wynne, who retired in October, gave up that position on Thursday and General Rashad Mahmood assumed charge.

After chairing the corps commanders meeting, General Kayani bade farewell to Prime Minister Sharif at his official residence in Islamabad.

By Mohsin Ali Correspondent