ISLAMABAD, Oct 4 Air Marshal Tahir Rafique Butt has been appointed Vice Chief of the Air Staff. He replaces Air Marshal Hifazat Ullah Khan, who retired on Monday.

Before his elevation, Air Marshal Butt was serving as Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (personnel) at the Air Headquarters in Islamabad.

Sources told Dawn that Deputy Chief of Air Staff (training) Air Marshal Athar Bukhari has been posted as the Deputy Chief of Air Staff (personnel) after Air Marshal Butt's promotion.

The sources said that Air Vice Marshal Sohail Aman has been promoted as Air Marshal and appointed as Deputy Chief of Air Staff (training).

Air Marshal Butt was commissioned in General Duties (pilot) Branch of PAF on March 6, 1977. He served as a fighter pilot in various squadrons.

He is recipient of Hilal-i-Imtiaz (military), Sitara-i-Imtiaz (military) and Tamgha-i-Basalat.