A change of command ceremony was held at the General Headquarters (GHQ), Rawlapindi on Friday where the outgoing Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani handed over the command of Pakistan Army to the new army chief General Raheel Sharif, Geo News reported.

As the ceremony started, outgoing Army Chief Gen Kayani inspected the farewell guard of honor at the GHQ.

The army chief-designate Gen Raheel Sharif was also present at the ceremony who assumed the command of Pakistan Army as 15th COAS.

Gen Kayani addressed the change of command ceremony and in his brief address, he thanked the army officers and soldiers for extending their cooperation to him.

He said that Pakistan Army overcame all the challenges in a professional manner and never disappointed the nation while dealing with the internal threats or natural calamities.

Gen Kayani continued saying that Pakistan armed forces have made unprecedented sacrifices over the last few years. He said that no one can stop us from progressing and attaining a distinctive point at international level.

He said that everyone has to play one’s positive role for the development of the country by rising above all the sectarian and ethnic differences. He also said that difficulties are always challenges for nations but we have to find a way to face and solve them.

The outgoing army chief said that after the retirement, his heart will continue to beat with the Pakistan Army.

He, then, wished best of luck to Pakistan, Pakistan Army and all the personnel.

Kayani, known as the ‘quiet general of Pakistani politics,’ has been given much credit for resisting the temptation to meddle in politics despite Pakistan’s frequent security, economic, power and political crises.

Kayani was appointed the army chief by former military ruler Pervez Musharraf in 2007 and received an unprecedented three-year extension from premier Yusuf Raza Gilani in 2010. During his six years tenure, he came across formidable challenges.