ISLAMABAD, March 7: President Gen Pervez Musharraf on Wednesday appointed Maj-Gen Syed Absar Hussain as the Commander of the Strategic Forces Command following his promotion to the rank of Lt-General.

Four other Major-Generals were promoted to the rank of Lt-Gen. They are: Maj-Gen Khalid Shameem Wynne, Maj-Gen Muhammad Ashraf Saleem, Maj-Gen Shahid Niaz and Maj-Gen Muhammad Yousaf.Lt-Gen Absar will replace Lt-Gen Khalid Munir who will be retiring soon.

Named to head the all important strategic forces command, Lt-Gen Absar is currently serving as the Director-General of Defence Export Promotion Organisation (DEPO).

Lt-Gen Absar was commissioned in the Artillery in April 1972. He is a graduate of the Command and Staff College, Quetta; Egyptian Army Staff College, and National Defence University, Islamabad.

The government had last year set up separate commands in its three services equipped with nuclear weapons and missiles capable of retaliating for any first nuclear strike.

The Armed Strategic Force is consisted of special commands in the army, air force and navy that store nuclear weapons and nuclear-capable missiles in semi-knocked-down condition in peace time for assembly and deployment during periods of high tension.

Lt-Gen Waseem Ahmed Ashraf, who is at present serving as Adjutant-General at the General Headquarters, has been made Corps Commander of Gujranwala, in place of Lt-Gen Anis Ahmad Abbasi. Lt-Gen Abbasi is nearing retirement.

Lt-Gen Imtiaz Hussain, Corps Commander of Bahawalpur, has been appointed the Adjutant-General at the General Headquarters. The new Corps Commander of Bahwalpur is yet to be named.

Maj-Gen Wynne was commissioned in the Punjab Regiment in April 1972. He is a graduate of Command and Staff College, Quetta, German Army Staff and National Defence University, Islamabad. He has held various command, staff and instructional appointments during his career. He has commanded an Infantry Division and has been Commandant School and Infantry and Tactics, Quetta. At present he is Deputy Chief of General Staff at General Headquarters.

Maj-Gen Saleem was commissioned in Army Air Defence in April 1972. He is a graduate of Command and Staff College, Quetta, Indonesian Army Staff College, and National Defence College, Islamabad.

He has held various command, staff and instructional appointments during his career. He has been appointed Commander of Army Air Defence Command.

Maj-Gen Shahid Niaz was commissioned in Army Engineers in April, 1972.

He is a graduate of Command and Staff College, Quetta, and National Defence University, Islamabad. He has been the Director-General of Frontier Works Organisation. He was at present serving as Engineer-in- Chief.