Lt Gen Rashad new chief of general staff

Jan 18: Lt  Gen Rashad Mehmood was named on Friday the army’s new Chief of General Staff (CJS).

Lt Gen Mehmood, currently Corps Commander of Lahore, will replace Lt Gen Waheed Arshad, who is retiring on Sunday (Jan 20). Gen Arshad was once tipped to succeed Gen Kayani.

Gen Mehmood will be the 30th CGS, one of the most prestigious positions in the army.

The CGS is assigned the operational and intelligence matters at the General Headquarters with directorates of Military Operations and Military Intelligence falling under his purview.

Eight of the last 13 army chiefs had served as the CGS before their elevation.

The new CGS is from Baloch regiment and as a major general he served in the ISI.

In another important staff appointment, Lt Gen Muhammad Haroon Aslam was posted as the Chief of Logistic Staff.

Lt Gen Aslam was earlier commanding Bahawalpur Corps which is part of the southern military command.

Gen Aslam also served as General Office Commanding of Special Services Group and director general of Rangers, Lahore.

The new staff appointments have led to changes in the command of two important corps — Lahore and Bahwalpur. Both positions were taken up by Lieutenant Generals promoted last week.

Lt Gen Maqsood Ahmed was given the charge of Lahore Corps which is under the central command. He will be taking over from Lt Gen Mehmood, the new CGS.

Lt Gen Maqsood has commanded Infantry Division in Murree and was serving in the ISI as one of the directors general before his Lahore posting.

Another newly promoted general, Lt Gen Zubair Mahmood Hayat, will be the commander of the Bahawalpur Corps.

Lt Gen Zubair Hayat is from artillery. He was previously General Officer Commanding, Sialkot.

In other appointments, Lt Gen Syed Wajid Hussain Shah has been posted as Chairman of Heavy Industries Taxila and Lt Gen Najibullah as Engineer-in-Chief at the GHQ.

Lt Gen Wajid Hussain comes from the Armoured Corps. He was Commandant of School of Armour, Nowshera.

Lt Gen Najibullah was formerly General Officer Commanding of Kharian. He has also served as director general of Frontier Works Organisation and is from the Engineer Corps.