Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa has visited the Multan garrison and met officers and men of the unit as part of his farewell visits, the military’s media wing said on Friday.
“While interacting with strike formations’ troops, COAS commended their extraordinary professional competence and devotion to duty in the service of the motherland,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement.
Earlier on arrival, COAS was received by Lieutenant General Akhtar Nawaz Satti, Commander Southern Command.
On Thursday, COAS visited Sialkot and Mangla garrisons “as part of his farewell visits to various formations.”
“COAS appreciated formations for their excellent performance during various operations, training, and natural calamities,” according to the ISPR press release.
COAS gave troops advice to continue serving the country with “the same fervor and commitment no matter what the conditions they face.”
COAS was welcomed by Lieutenant Generals Muhammad Aamer and Ayman Bilal Safdar at the Mangla garrison in Sialkot upon arrival.
COAS Bajwa allegedly announced last month that he would retire on November 29 as scheduled, putting a stop to rumors that he could ask for another extension.
The COAS also reportedly stated that from now onwards Pakistan’s military will not play any role in the country’s politics and the military has decided to remain “apolitical”.
Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) General Nadeem Raza’ is also due to retire on November 27.
Background discussions with the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) revealed that an intense consultation process was underway to select one of the six top-ranking generals as the next chief of army staff.
Those on the list are Lt Gen Asim Munir, currently serving in GHQ as Quartermaster General; Lt Gen Sahir Shamshad Mirza, Corps Commander Rawalpindi X; Lt Gen Azhar Abbas, Chief of General Staff (CGS); Lt Gen Nauman Mehmood, President National Defence University (NDU); Lt Gen Faiz Hamid, Corps Commander Bahawalpur; and Lt Gen Mohammad Amir, Corps Commander XXX in Gujranwala.
