What a speech, General!

COAS General Raheel Sharif’s first public speech was a humdinger

Oratory skills are a crucial aspect of leadership. And considering the fact that Pakistani military chiefs have a tendency of becoming leaders of, you know, more than just the armed forces, being a good speaker becomes all the more important. Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Raheel Sharif’s first public speech since becoming the army chief, at the General Headquarters (GHQ), has revealed that the man has it in him to deliver effective speeches should he ever have to become the leader of, you know, more than just the armed forces – in the best interests of the country of course.

That the civil-military relationship in the country has been tense over the past few months would be an understatement. There is the small matter of a former army chief being tried for treason, the Geo-ISI episode, Khawaja Asif’s – present at the GHQ – rant against the military and most of all General Raheel’s moustache. That all army chiefs that have summoned military coups in Pakistan had moustaches is the biggest bone of contention in the civil-military ties. And even though the COAS didn’t bring the issue up at the GHQ, other issues were masterfully tackled in his carefully worded speech.

No revenge against democracy

The COAS paraphrased many a line from the book “Rhetoric on Democracy” in his speech to soothe many a nerve. He followed it up by claiming that everyone needs to work together to take Pakistan forward – another hint that a military coup is not exactly prowling around the corner. Clearly General Raheel Sharif by waxing lyrical for democracy has lowered some of the skepticism.

Terrorising the terrorists

Another crucial message in the COAS’s speech was for the Taliban. By stating that all those who have waged a war against the country must accept the constitution unconditionally or be ready to face the music, he has knocked down two birds with one stone. Firstly, that there is no dillydallying on the TTP front as far as the army is concerned. And secondly, again, by extolling the constitution the chief has taken the back seat on showcasing any intent on taking any “unconstitutional” measures. Having facial hair of course is perfectly legal.

It is now time for the rest of the institutions to follow the army chief’s lead and start acting sensibly. There seems to be a general consensus that democracy is now the way forward and that all institutions should work in tandem to strengthen its prospects.

Mending the media

The hullabaloo over the past couple of weeks has been all about Geo and the channel’s unsubstantiated accusations against the ISI. And so while the ‘democratic’ folks have been going all gung-ho against Geo, the COAS’s – again – carefully worded message to the media was an absolute humdinger. Instead of launching xenophobic tirades against the media, the army chief first acknowledged the role that media has played in the recent past and commended its sacrifices. All General Raheel Sharif asked for was responsible reporting, and the media’s editorial decision makers can only envy the ‘responsible’ nature of the chief of army staff.

What a speech it truly was, General!

That Khawaja Asif was present in the audience, basically tells everyone that the army chief is willing to let bygones be bygones. His pro-democracy message was as subtle as it was strong. It is now time for the rest of the institutions to follow the army chief’s lead and start acting sensibly. There seems to be a general consensus that democracy is now the way forward and that all institutions should work in tandem to strengthen its prospects. If everyone starts to act responsibly, and does what they are supposed to do, General Raheel Sharif’s moustache and its historical connotation might be buried in the graveyard of history forever.

The writer is General Raheel Sharif’s groupie and a proud proud Pakistani. All aftereffects of reading The Horizontal Column are the readers’ headache.