ISLAMABAD/RAWALPINDI: General Qamar Javed Bajwa has been appointed as the 16th Chief of Army Staff (COAS), who will take command of the Pakistan Army from incumbent Army Chief General Raheel Sharif on November 29, according to reports.
Meanwhile, General Zubair Mahmood Hayat has been appointed Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC). Incumbent CJCSC General Rashad Mahmood is also set to retire on November 29.
President Mamnoon Hussain promoted the two lieutenant generals to the rank of four-star generals on the advice of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
An official notification announcing the appointments is expected to be issued soon.
Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa
Gen Bajwa belongs to the Baloch Regiment of Pakistan Army’s Infantry Division. Being a professional and valiant soldier throughout his career, he also has the honor of commanding the army’s largest Corps 10, which oversees the Line of Control (LoC).
The general has a vast experience with regard to the security affairs of Azad Kashmir and northern areas.
Prior to be being elevated to the rank of General and being appointed Chief of Army Staff, General Qamar Javed Bajwa was Inspector General Training and Development GHQ. General Raheel Sharif, before becoming the COAS, also served on this post.
He had served as chief of Force Command Northern Areas and also commanded as Brigadier while commanding a peace mission to Congo.
Gen. Zubair Mahmood Hayat
General Zubair Mahmood Hayat, graduated from Command and Staff College Camberley, United Kingdom, and National Defence University, Islamabad. The general served on key posts throughout his career.
As a major general, Hayat served as General Officer Commanding (GOC) Sialkot and led Staff Duties Directorate. He was elevated to lieutenant general in January 2013 and was instated as corps commander Bahawalpur.
He was later appointed as the director general (DG) of the Strategic Plans Division in December 2013. The division, formed in 2001, is vital to research for and development of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons, and it works as the secretariat of National Command Authority.
After this crucial responsibility, General Zubair Hayat was appointed as Chief of General Staff (CGS).
Hayat hails from a military family. His father retired from Pakistan Army as a major general.
One of Gen. Zubair’s brother, Lt. Gen. Umar Hayat, is serving as chairman of Pakistan Ordinance Factory Wah Cantt.