President Zardari confers Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Military) on CNSC General Aamer Raza

Islamabad (Web Desk): President Asif Ali Zardari has conferred the prestigious Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Military) on Commander National Strategic Command (CNSC) General Aamer Raza at a special investiture ceremony at Aiwan-e-Sadr (Presidency) in Islamabad.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir, other service chiefs, and senior military and government officials attended the ceremony.

General Aamer Raza has previously received two other military distinctions, the Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Military) and Sitara-e-Basalat (Star of Valour), in recognition of his service.

He took charge as Pakistan’s first Commander National Strategic Command (CNSC) after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif promoted him from lieutenant general to four-star general on July 24.

Prior to his new appointment, General Raza was serving as the Pakistan Army’s Chief of General Staff before assuming command of the newly created strategic organisation.

The National Strategic Command (NSC) was established following the passage of the 27th Constitutional Amendment, which brought significant changes to Article 243 of the Constitution.

Under the amendment, the long-standing position of Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) was abolished, while the new posts of Chief of Defence Forces and Commander National Strategic Command were introduced.

The constitutional changes also strengthened the powers of the country’s top military leadership and provided constitutional safeguards for five-star generals.

According to the amended framework, the CNSC is appointed by the prime minister on the recommendation of the Chief of Defence Forces.

The commander is initially appointed for a three-year period, with the prime minister empowered to determine the terms, conditions and rules applicable to the position.

The law also permits the prime minister to extend the commander’s tenure through one further three-year appointment, again based on the CDF’s recommendation.

Another provision states that the appointment, reappointment or extension of the CNSC cannot be contested before a court, meaning such decisions are protected from judicial review.

The amendment further exempts the CNSC from provisions of the Army Act concerning retirement age, service tenure and removal.

While holding the strategic command, the officer remains a General in the Pakistan Army and continues to serve in that rank.

Under the new constitutional arrangement, the Commander National Strategic Command performs the duties of the office while retaining the rank of general in the Pakistan Army.