Ali Asghar Mubarak
ISLAMABAD: Outgoing military chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa on Tuesday handed over the command of the army to newly appointed Chief of Army Staff Gen Syed Asim Munir.
The outgoing army chief passed the baton of command to Gen Munir at a ceremony held in the Army Hockey Stadium, which is close to the General Headquarters In Rawalpindi. Army chief Gen Asim Munir formally assumed charge of the office by receiving the traditional Malacca Cane, marking the time-honoured tradition that symbolises the seamless transition of military leadership.
The Malacca cane, also known as the command stick, is an army command stick that has been a part of the military tradition since the British era.
The cane is considered a symbol of command in the military. The tradition of giving the Malacca cane to a new army chief date back to the British era.
The Malacca cane is part of the uniforms of important military officers in many countries, including Sri Lanka, India and the United Kingdom. The Malacca stick is given to officers of the rank of brigadier and above.
The Malacca stick is considered a symbol of the increase in the personality and power of the army chief. Still, the real significance lies in the heavy responsibilities of the army chief.
Current and former army officers including Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Gen Sahir Shamshad Mirza, Air Chief Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu, Navel Chief Admiral Amjad Khan Niazi, Lt-Gen Nigar Johar, former army chief Gen (retd) Rahil Sharif Gen (retd) Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah, Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, all four chief ministers, media persons, civilians and foreign diplomats also attended the ceremony.
Addressing the ceremony, outgoing army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa said that he was immensely pleased that his 44 years of career in the army and six years as the chief of army staff culminated with so many feathers to his cap.
He said that whether it was escalations on the Line of Control or the international security issues and law and order of the country, the army under his leadership successfully overcame them.
“I am thankful to Allah Almighty for giving me the opportunity to serve the great army and for giving me this honour. I am sure that Gen Asim Munir’s appointment as the army chief will prove to be the best decision for the country and the nation,” he said.
He also said that despite retirement, his spiritual relationship with the army will continue.
He said that that today he was handing over the command of the army to a more competent general who, he hoped, will deliver to the expectations of the nation.
“The Pakistan Army always obliged my orders in every situation and hard times. It is through the sacrifices of the Pakistan Army that peace is restored in the country. The Pakistan Army is securing borders with very low resources. I am thankful that Almighty Allah has blessed me to command this great army, which always remained at my beck and call,” he said.
