ISLAMABAD, Nov 27: President Gen Pervez Musharraf on Tuesday began a two-day round of farewell calls to the Services Chiefs at the end of his 43-year career with the army.

He will hand over the command of the army to Vice Chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani on Wednesday.

Gen Pervez Musharraf visited the Joint Staff Headquarters, the Naval and the Air Headquarters. He will visit the General Headquarters on Wednesday.

He thanked officers and jawans for their cooperation and lauded their services for rendering supreme sacrifices for the country in meeting external and internal threats and par-

ticularly noted their role in fighting the global war against terrorism.

The president said that the professionalism of the three services was internationally acknowledged and was a source of pride for the country.

He said the Pakistan Army, Navy and Air Force had risen to the occasion whenever the need arose and guaranteed the sovereignty and independence of the country.

Attired in military ceremonial dress, the president visited the three military headquarters in line with tradition. Contingents of various services saluted him. The president reviewed the guard of honour.

The president had a meeting with the Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, Gen Tariq Majid, at the Joint Staff Headquarters.

He later visited the Naval Headquarters and met the Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Muhammad Afzal Tahir, and the principal staff officers.

He also visited the Air Headquarters and met Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Tanvir Mahmood Ahmed along with other senior officers. He also had an informal meeting with senior officers and was presented souvenirs.

Gen Musharraf will take oath as a civilian president on Wednesday.

Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar will administer the oath at the Aiwan-i-Sadr on Thursday.

—APP