Vice Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Muhammad Tahir Rafique Butt and others in Peshawar.—APP photo

ISLAMABAD: Air Marshal Tahir Rafique Butt on Monday took over as the new Chief of the Air Staff of Pakistan Air Force, DawnNews reported.

Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman was due to retire on March 18, 2012, on completion of his three-year tenure.

The PAF’s change of command ceremony took place at the Air Headquarters in Islamabad.

Former Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman pinned the batch and handed over the PAF's Sword of Command to the new Air Marshal.

The PAF’s scout paraded and saluted the former and new Air Marshal.

Moreover, Lt Gen Zahir ul Islam took charge of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief from the Lt Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha who was scheduled to retired