Gen Raheel Sharif by his professional conduct and moral high ground has proved that coming from a family of shuhda he is an officer and a gentleman capable of holding the high office of Chief of Army Staff. His elder brother Shaheed Shabir Sharif and his father must be proud of him. He has earned respect by his conduct when others before him have fallen prey to temptation. The honour bestowed by ranks and privileges of the high office of the Chief of Staff are more than what money can buy. Those who offered supreme sacrifice fighting to defend country will forever live in the hearts and minds of people.
The operation to secure Pakistan from external threats and internal insecurity posed by homegrown terrorists is a battle which must proceed to its natural conclusion, till last criminal and terrorist who has made killing and crime a business is eliminated. Army’s image, tarnished by numerous real estate, construction contracts and procurement scams during controversial tenures of Musharraf and Kayani who witnessed the nexus of land mafia dons and many corrupt officers with their insatiable greed, has been restored and must continue with same zeal and commitment. What started as welfare project for the next of kin of shuhda and ghazis suffering disabilities as a consequence of injury while on official duty, fell victim to greed and abuse. Those politicians who were trying to create controversies about his retirement should be ashamed.
Where were they when Musharraf and Kayani got numerous extensions? It was during these tenures that numerous khakis who headed NAB got LPG quotas and multiple plots, which many politicians and paid civil bureaucrats also acquired. These irregularities and conflicts of interest were regularised by those who were themselves beneficiary of such acts which cannot be justified either morally or legally. The curse of corruption and money laundering that has given rise to criminal economy also serves to fund terrorists who want to destroy our way of life and state sovereignty.
MALIK TARIQ
Lahore
