President Asif Ali Zardari, the supreme commander of the armed forces, today approved the appointment of Air Marshal Tahir Rafique Butt as the new chief of the Pakistan Air Force.
The President approved the appointment on the advice of Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar said.
The incumbent PAF chief, Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman, is due to retire on March 18 after completing his three-year tenure.
Butt will be promoted to the rank of Air Chief Marshal from the date he assumes charge, Babar said.
Zardari’s approval of Butt’s appointment, which was announced by the government last month, was a formality.
Butt is the senior-most officer in the line of succession and is currently the vice chief of air staff.
He was commissioned as a pilot in March 1977.
During his career, he has commanded a fighter squadron, a fighter wing, an operational base and a regional air command.
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