This is first time when an Army chief announced his retirement
himself. The question arises that why he did so, what are the conditions of
army and country?
First of all, we should understand that there is nothing wrong to
announce retirement. Although it’s the prerogative of Prime Minister of Islamic
Republic of Pakistan to do so, but Gen. Ashfaq Pervaiz Kiyani had to announce
himself because the rumors regarding his extension were getting ambiguous till
he decided to diminish all these rumors, which ruined his efforts to regain credible
status and respect of the institution after Gen. Musharaf’s era.
Secondly, he established a good gesture to all the national and
international forces and made an end of speculations at all levels including
political, civil society and super powers. With all this, he ended the
resentment element in the political forces of the country and hatred of a
common man regarding these key or ruling posts.
Thirdly, he gave a strong message to the international political
actors that democracy now in Pakistan strengthened and you can only deal with
the people of Pakistan through their representatives. Hence, there is no other
shortcut to deal with Pakistan.
Gen. Kayani is a committed person, he does not believe in words but
in actions. He always said that Pak Army doesn’t want to derail the political
system and he rendered support every time for country’s democracy. In 2013
elections, he played a pivotal role not only to conduct fair and free election
but also carried successfully till end.
Besides, he served on many positions with distinctions in his
career. He set footprints for upcoming (COAS), the upcoming (COAS) should be as
calm and as committed as he is, he is perfect in strengthening civil military relationships,
conducting war on terror and handling various intense situations in extreme
pressure.
It’s time for Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif to make decision; in
history he preferred his loyalty with him over merit when he appointed Gen.
Waheed Kakar in 1993 and Gen. Musharaf in 1998 as army chief, and the price of
these two times had been paid by people of Pakistan and democracy. My analysis
in all recommended names I found only Name and that is Lieutenant Gen. Raheel
Sharif. Now the question arises why he only, his credentials are not extra
ordinary then the others, lets now check the others, Lieutenant Gen Haroon Aslam
and Lieutenant Gen Rashid Mahmood both are going to retire on April 2014 which makes
them the prime contenders for the post of COAS.
Lieutenant Gen Haroon Aslam is currently Chief of Logistics Staff
but Haroon Aslam is a former commando and he was also part of the team that
ousted Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif from his position in 1999 and brought Gen.
Musharraf to power.
There is another tradition considered in which it is the Chief of
General Staff who is considered as the army chief in waiting, Gen. Rashid Mahmood the current CGS has the best of threes worlds, on one hand he is
considered as Kayani’s man as well as being close to the Sharifs because he has
served as Corp commander Lahore, and also belongs from Lahore city. The
tradition in four months of the government that Sharifs would prefer a Punjabi
as army chief and one from Lahore is an added bonus. Gen. Mahmood has good ties
with Americans also he has much interaction with international players than any
other four Generals; he knows how to deal with them in any situation because he
has in most of the meetings on International level. He also belongs to “7
Baluch rejment” while Gen. kayani belong to “5 Baluch regment” which is same
time positive and negative point for Gen. Mahmood. Interestingly GHQ have
already started giving unannounced protocol and respect to Gen. Rashid Mahmood
as next chief
Third on the seniority list is Lieutenant Gen. Raheel Sharif, lets
skip him for a while, there are two dark horses in the race, we move on them
Lieutenant Gen. Tariq khan fourth on seniority list, he is the key person and if
we want negotiations or going to launch operation against Taliban in both of
the conditions we need him because he monitored Bajor, Mohmand, Deer, Sawat,
Buneer, and north Waziristan operation directly, but he has his own mindset
also, and does not follow the foot printouts of Kayani. The 5th one Lieutenant
Gen.Muhammad Zaheer-ul-Islam who is also on a key post means D.G ISI, and Ex.
Corp Commander Karachi both the 4th and 5th numbers are
the persons requirement of country to perform their duties where they are, because
their temperament and mindset for handling the things are totally different
than kiyani. There horizon is a bit narrow then the others.
So in the end we have Lieutenant Gen.Raheel sharif, the third most
senior officer, he is brother of Maj. Shabir Sharif Saheed a war hero of 1965.
Gen. Raheel is a resident of model town Lahore and, there for a neighbor of the
Sharifs. Although his chances are very bleak but same time it’s a lucky point
for him for COAS of Pakistan Army. But in Pakistan the appointment of Army
chief is a double edged sword??
Shehzada Khurram Iqbal Awan
E-mail: khurramiqbalawan@gmail.com,
