According to the media scribes Lt General Ahmed Shuja Pasha will get a second extension of two years. One view on this extension is that such extensions are not in the interest of the army as an institution because it deprives the other promising and competent officers a chance to prove their competency and abilities. It also writes off the future promotion of many senior officers.
However, as the ISI is having a review of its working arrangement with the CIA in fight against terrorism, the change of the head of the ISI is not in the national interest at this point of time. This argument is not so convincing because the war against terrorist is not likely to be concluded in next few years.
I think one solution to the extension issue which is also creating a clash between the judiciary and government is that the retirement age of all judges, chief of defense forces, chairman of various commissions, federal secretaries to be extended up to 70 years of age and their service tenure to be fixed 8-10 years by making an amendment in the constitution.
S T HUSSAIN
Lahore
