General Raheel Sharif to retire as Pakistan Army chief - Here are top contenders for the post

Islamabad: General Raheel Sharif is set to step down as the chief of Pakistan Army on November 29. 

According to sources, Pakistan Prime Minister Sharif has already made up his mind over who will succeed General Sharif, but has so far kept his cards close to his chest.

Reportedly, Lt. Gen Ishfaq Nadeem Ahmed will be named the next Pakistan army chief. 

Lt. Gen Ishfaq Nadeem Ahmed is currently serving as Multan corps commander.

Others in contention for the top military post include Bahawalpur Corps Commander Lt Gen Javed Iqbal Ramday and Inspector General Training and Evaluation Lt Gen Qamar Bajwa.

Nawaz Sharif's choice

Nawaz Sharif's choice will be important in the context that the new army chief would have to oversee the transition of the army from counter-terrorism assignments to its conventional role of defending the borders.

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said that completion of ongoing counter-terrorism operations would be the responsibility of the new army chief.

Moreover, Lt Gen Zubair Mehmood is likely to be appointed chairman of the joint chiefs of staff committee, claim media reports.

Formal process for nomination

The formal process for nomination starts with the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi sending a list of the senior-most generals to the Prime Minister via the defence ministry, but without making any formal recommendations.

The Prime Minister then will hold informal consultations with the outgoing Army Chief before announcing his decision.

Gen Sharif initiates his farewell meetings

Gen Sharif initiated his farewell meetings at the Lahore Garrison on Monday, where he told a gathering of officers and men from the army and Rangers that he was leaving the country "more secure and stable", with a "sense of greater hope and direction" and ready to thwart all challenges.