GEN RAHEEL SHARIF ASSUMES CHARGE AS PAKISTAN'S NEW ARMY CHIEF

Career infantry officer Gen Raheel Sharif, considered to be a moderate and an old India hand, on 29 nov 2013 took over the command of the 600,000-strong Pakistan Army from Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani.

Gen Kayani, the longest serving army chief under a civilian government, passed the baton of command to 57-year- old Gen Sharif at an impressive ceremony held at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi.

Gen Sharif was chosen by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif as the 15th chief of the Pakistan Army on 27 Nov.

The army chief is considered to be the most powerful person in Pakistan, with the military having ruled the country for more than half its 66-year history.

Gen Sharif, who holds the Hilal-i-Imtiaz award, is the younger brother of highly decorated Major Shabbir Sharif, who was killed in the 1971 war with India.

He had superseded senior most military officer Lt Gen Haroon Aslam to the post. Aslam took early retirement and tendered his resignation on nov 28.