General Syed Aamer Raza on Monday took charge as the first Commander of the National Strategic Command (CNSC) and met Defense Force Chief and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir.
A press release issued by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said CNSC Raza was given a guard of honor while assuming command at the General Headquarters (GHQ).
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif promoted him to the rank of four-star general and appointed him CNSC on July 24, a move that completed the restructuring of the country’s military high command initiated under the 27th constitutional amendment.
After the guard of honour, the ISPR said CNSC Raza laid a wreath at the memorial to the martyrs and paid homage to them.
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He later summoned CDF Munir to Headquarters for a meeting, during which he congratulated the four-star general for assuming command.
The position of CNSC was created under the 27th Constitutional Amendment, which rewrote Article 243. The amendment abolished the former position of chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee and established the positions of CDF and CNSC. He also expanded the constitutional powers of the country’s top military commanders and introduced constitutional protections for five-star generals.
Under the new law, the prime minister appoints the CNSC for a three-year term on the recommendation of the CDF. The prime minister is authorized to determine the terms, conditions and rules governing the office.
The amendment also allows the prime minister to reappoint the commander for an additional three-year term on the recommendation of the FDC.
Read more: Prime Minister Shehbaz appoints General Aamer Raza as Commander of the National Strategic Command
He also said that the appointment, re-election or extension of the CNSC cannot be challenged before any court, which is outside judicial control. The law also stipulated that the retirement age, tenure in service or dismissal provisions under the Army Act would not apply to the CNSC, who would continue to serve as a general in the Pakistan Army while performing his duties in office.
