Why Gen Raheel's Decision of Not Taking Extension Is Right One?

By Shahzad Masood Roomi

So, it is official now!

COAS Pakistan Army, Gen Raheel Sharif does not want extension in his service and will retire on due date according to DG ISPR Lt. Gen Asim Bajwa.

According to DG ISPR, COAS has made it clear that he believed in Pakistan army as strong institution.

Pakistan Army is a great institution. I don’t believe in extension and will retire on the due date. Efforts to root out terrorism will continue with full vigor and resolve.

Pakistan's national interest is supreme and will be safe guarded at all costs.", reads DG ISPR tweets in this regard.

ANALYSIS:  

Many in Pakistan was expecting and hoping for extension in his tenure just like his predecessor Gen Ashfaq Kiyani took back in 2010 when he was about to retire. Pakistan has been victim of self-inflicted wound of its inability in developing strong independent national institutions. Be it financial or governance it is same sad story everywhere. Now in order to deliver performance by majority of national institution, it has to wait for someone with personal integrity to rise to the top to take charge of the affairs but due to rampant corruption, nepotism and mismanagement that happens rarely in Pakistan. Even if someone honest takes charge of a state institution he finds it very difficult to perform his duties with full authority due to clash of interest of political forces. Furthermore, national institutions must not depend on few personalities to perform rather it must muster the operational freedom and efficacy from its internal discipline and rule of law.

Pakistan Army, by far, remains the odd institution for showing resistance and recovery while every other institution of the state was melting down due to corrupt practices of ruling elite.

Now keeping all this in mind, anyone with understanding of this importance of institution building, the decision of COAS Gen Raheel Sharif must be no surprise. He is a dignified man with exceptional carrier record and carries ample amount of love and affection of the nation. His statement shows that he believed Pakistan Army as strong independent institution which can perform its tasks and duties regardless of the fact who is heading the institution.

His decision will serve Pakistan as his subordinates (one of whom will be promote to his current position) will respect Gen Raheel and will continue the policies he initiated. Now there can be a counter-argument that you must not change commander while fighting a war. Well people who promote this thesis must understand that this is a very different kind of war with no end in sight. Institutional hierarchy cannot be disturbed using this phrase. Pakistan already has done that once in case of Gen. Kiyani and result was not good; rather it was counter-productive!