Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif hails outgoing army chief Raheel Sharif

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday hailed outgoing army chief General Raheel Sharif who is retiring on November 29 after a three-year tenure.

Sharif hosted a dinner for the retiring army chief where senior officials from armed forces and civilian institutions and politicians attended.

"We have gathered here today to honour and thank General Raheel Sharif for his many years of dedicated, meritorious and exemplary service to Pakistan and its Armed Forces," Sharif said.

In an earlier report, a US official has said Sharif is seen by United States as a valued and respected partner in the war against terrorism and wished him well in his future pursuits. Quoting diplomatic sources, the Dawn reports than an announcement is expected on Saturday about the appointment of the new army chief.

Stating that any transition in the Pakistan Army was an internal matter of the country, it was only appropriate that any statement regarding this change should come from its government, a US State Department spokesperson said, when asked about the general was stepping down as the army chief that it was only appropriate that any statement regarding this change should come from its government.