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09-01-2016, 04:13 AM
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Extension or retirement?
Appointment of an army chief or giving Extension has always been one of the toughest decisions for the civilian rulers and it often generates a lot of interest and controversy in the country. But, in the case of General Raheel Sharif, it is different. He created history by becoming the first chief who publicly an**unced that he would retire on time i.e. in **vember this year. What will be Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's decision being the final authority in decision-making?
Those who k**w the chief believe that even if offered by the PM, he may **t accept it, but would certainly like him to appoint the new chief in accordance with law and procedure. Nawaz Sharif did **t faced any problem when he appointed General Raheel as successor to retired General Ashfaq Parvez Kyani in 2013, few months after he became the prime minister for the record third time. **w, when he has to make a decision for his successor or considered his extension, he has few weeks to make the decision which, despite General's an**uncement, early this year. General Raheel, undoubtedly one of the most popular army chief since he took over from General Kayani, for leading the country to major operations against terrorism, from **rth Waziristan, Karachi and in Balochistan. Kayani got one full Extension from the previous government of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), led by former president Asif Ali Zardari, despite tension with him over ‘Kerry-Lugar Bill' and on some other matters of national security. So, when Nawaz Sharif became the PM for the third time, he and his close aides, comprising his brother Shahbaz Sharif, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and few others decided to have smooth civil-military relationship. Therefore, when the time of the appointment of the new chief came, Sharif decided to go by the rules, and made General Raheel Sharif the new army chief. It was the beginning of a smooth relationship despite Nawaz Sharif's reputation of having problems with army chiefs in the past. His relationship with General Raheel in the last three years, by and large, remained good and accommodating for each other, despite problems on certain matters. It would be an interesting analysis as to why General Raheel surprised many when he himself an**unced that he would **t seek Extension and retire on time i.e. in **vember 2016, something unprecedented. Was he **t happy with the manner some speculative stories were circulated or planted? Apparently, he wants to end all kinds f speculations and wanted to concentrate on operation, Zarb-e-Azb, which he wanted to complete by the time he retires and also made it part of his commitment. These two an**uncements made the chief more popular among the people but at the same time raised few concerns in the PM's camp: why he made it and that too some ten months before the retirement date? As far I remembered when he an**unced that he would **t seek extension, the PM was out of the country, which further created anxiety within the PM camp. Four most trusted aides of Sharif, with whom he always discussed such matters, are brother Shahbaz Sharif, Ch Nisar Ali Khan, Ishaq Dar and Khwaja Asif. General Raheel's appointment came after a huge gap between 1998 and 2013, which was shared by only two chiefs, retired General Pervez Musharraf and retired General Kayani. Therefore, his an**uncement of **t getting Extension was welcome by the ex-army ******rs and defence analysts in particular, but it generated new debate, something which the General wants to avoid. However, General Raheel becomes a popular general, without showing any sign of political ambitions because of two to three reasons. (1) Big success in Zarb-e-Azb, (2) Success in Karachi operation, and (3) Kept himself out of politics and even saved the government in 2014, during ‘dharna’. Therefore, as some of his retired colleagues believe that he may stand by commitment and can create history of completing his job on a high **te. However, what General Sharif, most probably wants from PM Sharif to go by rules, and according to Constitution, in naming his successor, as he had done in his case, too; so, the continuity of the operation would **t affect and continue with the same pace. The big question is whether PM Sharif could consider the option of an 'extension’, as despite differences on certain matters, he had the best of relationship with General Raheel as compared to his experience with other chiefs in his tenure between 1990 to 1998, which includes retired General Aslam Baig, General Asif Nawaz, retired General Waheed Kakar, retired Jehangir Karamat and particularly with retired General Pervez Musharraf, who staged a coup against him on October 12, 1999. Even during the worst political crisis in 2014, when opposition leaders, Imran Khan and Dr Tahirul Qadri practically laid siege to Islamabad for 126 days, the PM asked for General Raheel to play his role in averting the crisis, which he did and sided with the Parliament and told both Imran and Qadri that he did **t support their demand for PM's resignation before judicial commission’s findings on alleged election rigging in 2013. He had agreed to become a guarantor in case the judicial commission report holds the PM guilty. Therefore, politically, General Raheel has **t created problems for the PM, but unlike in 2014 the government-opposition relationship got tense when during the operation in Sindh, some of the officials allegedly associated with PPP leader Asif Ali Zardari were arrested on charges of corruption, money-laundering and terror-financing as well. Sources said General Raheel had made this point clear in the 'central apex committee’ that the operation would be across-the-board and without any hidden political agenda. This commitment he made in the presence of PM Sharif and Asif Zardari. Thus, the message was clear, which created a wave of panic among the PPP leaders while initially they were happy that operation had targeted the MQM militants. Thus, Mr Zardari smelt the difficult situation ahead and left the country and some of his close aides also joined him in Dubai and London. But Dr Asim was unlucky and is in custody for over a year **w. So, it is almost certain that unlike some speculations, the PM Sharif may go by the book in naming the new chief. But, if at all the PM considered the other option, it could be based on General Raheel's policy of **n-interference in political matters, except for when it comes to some evidence of ‘crime and politics’. The issues related to national security, internal security particularly in Karachi and Balochistan, relationship with hostile neighbours and more importantly safe completion of Chine-Pakistan Eco**mic Corridor (CPEC) are the matters of utmost important and would be in PM's mind when he will make the historic decision. As far as General Raheel's own position is concerned, it remains unchanged since he made two major an**uncements early this year, i.e. eliminating terrorism before the New Year, and secondly, would **t seek extension. So, the ball is in PM's court. While some political pundits believe that 'civil-military' relationship is tense, but the situation on ground presents a different story despite few problems. When Sharif would finally take the decision about Sharif in uniform, much clarity would have come about the political situation and on legal fronts too, including pending cases or references before the Election Commission of Pakistan, Speaker National Assembly and in the Supreme Court. ** wonders why all eyes are on September 2016. The writers is a senior columnist and analyst of Geo, The News and Jang أكثر... 
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العرض الشجري