08 October 2004	Friday	22 Shaban 1425

ISLAMABAD, Oct 7: Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) Gen Ehsanul Haq and Vice Chief of Army Staff (VCoAS) Gen Ahsan Saleem Hayat will assume the charge of their offices on Friday (today).

On the eve of the change of top commanders in the army, ceremonies were held at the GHQ and the Joint Staff Headquarters to bid farewell to General Aziz Khan and General Muhammad Yousaf.

A press release issued by the ISPR said a simple, but impressive ceremony was held at the Joint Staff Headquarters to bid farewell to outgoing CJCSC Gen Muhammad Aziz Khan.

Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Shahid Karim Ullah, and other senior representatives of the army and PAF received Gen Aziz. A contingent of the three services presented a general salute to the general.

The ISPR said a similar ceremony was held at the GHQ to bid farewell to Gen Muhammad Yousaf Khan. Lt-Gen Javed Hasan, Corps Commander, received the outgoing officer at the GHQ.

A contingent of the Azad Kashmir Regiment presented a general salute to the outgoing VCoAS. The ISPR said corps commanders and principal staff officers were present on the occasion.

The ISPR said Gen Muhammad Aziz Khan, who retired on Thursday, also visited Jamdola Battalion of the Punjab Regiment where he was commissioned almost 40 years ago. He was received by Gen Officer Commanding Maj-Gen Mir Haider Ali and all ranks.