ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has approved the award of the Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Military) to General Syed Aamer Raza, the newly appointed Commander of Pakistan’s National Strategic Command, according to a statement posted by the presidency on X on Friday.
“The president has approved conferring Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Military) on Gen Syed Aamer Raza, the commander of the National Strategic Command,” the statement said.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif promoted Raza from lieutenant general to four-star general on July 24 and appointed him as Pakistan’s first Commander National Strategic Command (CNSC).
Before taking up the new role, Raza served as the Chief of the General Staff of the Pakistan Army.
He has previously received the Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Military) and the Sitara-e-Basalat for his military service.
The post of Commander National Strategic Command was created under Pakistan’s 27th Constitutional Amendment, which replaced the office of the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) with two new positions: Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Commander National Strategic Command.
The amendment also expanded the constitutional powers of Pakistan’s senior military leadership and introduced constitutional protections for five-star generals.
Under the new constitutional framework, the prime minister appoints the Commander National Strategic Command on the recommendation of the Chief of Army Staff and the Chief of Defence Forces. The appointment is for a three-year term and may be renewed once for another three years.
The amendment also bars courts from reviewing the appointment, reappointment or extension of the Commander National Strategic Command. It further exempts the office from retirement age and tenure provisions under the Pakistan Army Act while allowing the commander to continue serving with the rank of general.
Pakistan established the position as part of a broader overhaul of its military command structure.
In December, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir became the country’s first Chief of Defence Forces, while retaining his role as Chief of Army Staff under the constitutional changes.
