Malacca Cane: The change of command symbol in Pakistan Army

The change of command in Pakistan Army is completed when the command stick is handed over from one army chief to another.

Malacca Cane is considered a symbol of command in the army. The tradition has been running from the time of the British. When the Malacca Cane is handed over to the new army chief, the command is also transferred.

It is made from special bamboos which grow in Singaporean island Malacca. Like the rest of the world, It is a part of uniform of army officers.

Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif would hand over the Malacca Cane to his successor during a ceremony in Rawalpindi on September 29.

Gen Raheel had gotten the Malacca Cane from General Ashfaq Pervaiz Kayani three years ago. In November 2007, Gen Pervaiz Musharraf had handed over the Malacca Cane to Ashfaq Pervaiz Kayani.