Islamabad (Staff Report): Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi is likely to appoint the new Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) from among three vice-admirals – Zafar Mehmood Abbasi, Syed Arifullah Hussaini and Shah Sohail Masood – as the term of Admiral Muhammad Zakaullah, the serving CNS, will end on October 7.
All the three officers, whose names are being considered for the post of CNS, belong to the PN’s operations branch.
Theoretically, naval chief’s appointment is notified by President, who is also the supreme commander of armed forces of the country, on the advice of PM.
The practice of appointing naval chiefs from amongst the Vice Admirals has been scrupulously followed by all governments.
Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman would retire in March 2018.
