Days after Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif announced he would step down later this year, banners have cropped up on the streets of several cities, including Islamabad, Rawalpindi and Lahore requesting the army chief to reconsider his decision.
The chief organiser of the campaign, Ali Hashmi, claimed thousands of banners have been displayed in the capital and different cities of Punjab, including Faisalabad and Sargodha.
“The banners are being displayed as part of a campaign by a political party – ‘Move on Pakistan’,” Hashmi told a media outfit.
“We respect Gen Raheel’s decision to retire on the due date but his services for bringing peace in Karachi, FATA and Balochistan demand that he should stay as the army chief. Further, he speaks against corruption which is a biggest issue of the country. We believe that extension should be given to him because only he can address Pakistan’s issues,” he said.
Irked that political party leaders did not oppose the army chief’s decision, the chief organiser of the campaign said they took it upon themselves to convince Gen Raheel to change his mind.
“We thought political parties will urge the army chief to stay but they didn’t. So we came forward and now are going to intensify the campaign,” he said.
On January 25, Gen Raheel Sharif laid to rest speculation that he would continue to serve as the military chief beyond November 2016 when he is due to retire, insisting he preferred to relinquish the job – unlike two of his predecessors.
“I do not believe in extension and will retire on the due date,” Gen Raheel said in an unprecedented statement.
By declaring his intentions well in advance, Gen Raheel became the first army chief since 1998 to doff his military uniform after completing his three-year tenure.
Gen Raheel, who was picked by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to replace Gen Kayani, is known for being a ‘clear-headed general’.
I think Gen. Raheel Shareef has made a very correct announcement. He is very clear in his intentions, perceptions and conceptions. He is making history and leaving a very rare precedent. He has still enough time to complete his mission. He will give us a strong successor who will not only continue the same policy but also accelerate the speed of reforms. We all must take our own shares of responsibilities instead of looking to somebody to do our job. Salute to Gen Shareef and the armed forces!
The COAS has made the right decision. If he choses to stay then all his team has to stay. Hero worship of him only demonstrates how weak the civilian Govt. has been. Let us be mature and thank him for services rendered. He has layed down a benchmark and we sincerely hope he will have a say regarding who succeeds him.
Matter of fact, we are a sentimental Nation and easily go with the wing. All Generals are trained to lead – whatever front. All who have come were welcomed and all remembrered as ' Dictators' and what not after they are gone. We are a ungrateful Nation. The Dictator gave this Nation two dames which are life-line of the Nation. The civilian Governments could not give one in four decades. Better leave things to go their way instead of adding one more Dictator to the list – as we are.
when someone is performing well without his vested interest then he should stay to serve our nation .. as COAS has capacity to do this.
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