Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani has declared that he will retire on November 29.
According to the Media Reports, the announcement of the retirement has stirred a new debate concerning General Kayani’s successor.
Lt-Gen Haroon Aslam is at tops the list as potential contenders thus he is placed at number 1 in a seniority list.
He is also serving as Chief of the Logistic Staff.
Lt-Gen Aslam also served as Director General Military Operations and SSG Command and he also led army’s booming offensive against the Taliban within the Swat valley.
Lt-Gen Rashid Mahmood is at number two on the seniority list. Lt-Gen Mahmood is that the Chief of General Staff and Colonel Commandant of the Baloch Regiment.
If the new army chief is picked from any of these two officers, their term will last just for four months and 10 days. The retirement date of both the senior most officers is April 9, 2014.
Lt-Gen Raheel Sharif is third on the seniority list. He has been serving as the Inspector General Training and Evaluation. In addition, he is also Col. Commandant, Frontier Force Regiment. He is to retire on 1st October 2014.