RAWALPINDI: General Qamar Javed Bajwa handed over command of Pakistan Army to General Asim Munir at a change-of-command ceremony in Rawalpindi, marking an end to his six-year extended tenure as the army chief.
General Syed Asim Munir Ahmed Shah, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) has officially taken over the Command of Pakistan Army@OfficialDGISPR #PakistanArmy #COAS #Pakistan #ISPR pic.twitter.com/VTb85KmhvY
— Pakistan Armed Forces News ???????? (@PakistanFauj) November 29, 2022
Earlier, Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa visited Yadgar-e-Shuhda. He was accompanied by his successor Gen Asim Munir for the visit.
The ceremony kicked off with the GHQ military band performing national songs and a medley of folk tunes. Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, senior serving and retired officers, diplomats as well as government functionaries were also present on this occasion.
Earlier, in his final speech, General Bajwa expressed gratitude for being given the opportunity to lead the armed forces. He felicitated Gen Asim on being picked as next top commander.
He said “in addition to being a Hafiz-i-Quran, he (Gen Asim Munir) is a professional, capable and principled officer. I am certain that under his leadership the army will reach new heights of success.”
He further said that during his six-year tenure, the army had always responded to his call regardless of whether it was concerning terrorism in different parts of the country or natural calamities.
“And when I asked them for sweat, they gave me blood.”
On this occasion, Gen Bajwa also quoted a saying from American military leader Douglas MacArthur, which states: “Old soldiers don’t die, they just fade away.
“I will also fade into irrelevance but my spiritual relationship with the army will remain,” he said, ending his speech with prayers for the success of the new army chief and the Pakistan army.
