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ISLAMABAD, Sept 23: The military authorities have confirmed the retirement, at the end of their three-year tenure in their posts, of Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Gen Muhammad Aziz Khan and Vice Chief of Army Staff Gen Muhammad Yousaf on Oct 7, this year.
Both have been paying their traditional farewell visits to various army units. According to army rules, an officer is supposed to retire after completing a specified number of years in each post, even though he has not reached the age-limit specified for the rank.
Officials said retirement for a general as specified in the army rules was 60 years and for those in the rank of Lt-Gen, "the limit of service is till 57 years of age or completion of tenure in the rank, whichever is earlier."
Gen Aziz was born on Jan 1, 1947, and retires at the age of 57 in the rank of a full general after having completed the service tenure as CJCSC. Gen M. Yousaf was born on Feb 10, 1948, and is also scheduled to retire on Oct 7, after having completed the service tenure at the age of 56 years.
Sources say most of the incumbent Lt-Gen have completed the essential requirement of becoming chief of the army staff by commanding a corps during their career. Some of them are now close to completing their service tenures or age limit in the rank of Lt-Gen.
There are some 26 Lt-Gens in the army at various posts including the following nine corps commanders:
Corps Commanders I Corps Mangla: Lt-Gen Javed Alam Khan was appointed corps commander Mangla in April 2002. He is scheduled to retire in 2006.
Corps Commanders II Corps Multan: Lt-Gen Mohammed Akram has been commanding the corps since mid-Sept 2003. He is scheduled to retire in April 2005.
Corps Commanders IV Corps Lahore: Lt-Gen Shahid Aziz assumed command of the Lahore Corps in December 2003. He is scheduled to retire in October 2005.
Corps Commanders V Corps Karachi: Lt-Gen Ahsan Saleem Hayat is among one of the senior-most three star officers, who was given the corps command during December 2003.
Corps Commanders X Corps Rawalpindi: Lt-Gen Ashfaque Pervez Kiyani was appointed corps commander in September 2003. He is scheduled to retire in March 2007 and has done a military course from the US.
Corps Commanders XI Corps Peshawar: Appointed Corps Commander Peshawar in February 2004, Lt-Gen Safdar Hussain is the junior-most among the current three star generals. He is scheduled to retire in March 2008.
Corps Commanders XII Corps Quetta: Lt-Gen Shahid Hamid is junior to some 16 Lt-Gens and is scheduled to retire in October 2005.
Corp Commander XXX Corps Gujranwala: Lt-Gen Javed Hasan would be completing his service tenures by the end of October this year.
Corps Commanders XXXI Corps Bahawalpur: Lt-Gen Syed Pervez Shahid put on three stars in April 2001, and is scheduled to retire in April next year.
Others who have already commanded a corps but are now holding other posts are: Inter Services Intelligence DG Lt-Gen Ehsanul Haq, Lt-Gen Ghulam Mustafa, Lt-Gen Zarrar Azim, Lt-Gen Syed Arif Hasan, Lt-Gen Shahid Hamid and Lt-Gen Shahid Tirmizy.
