Bench reserves verdict on General Raheel promotion plea

The petition seeks the elevation of the army chief to the ceremonial top rank

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court on Tuesday reserved its verdict on the maintainability of a petition which seeks the elevation of Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif to the rank of field marshal for his “exemplary services and sacrifices rendered for the nation.”

Justice Aamer Farooq reserved his verdict after the counsel concluded arguments over the maintainability of the petition.

Sardar Adnan Saleem, through his counsel Raja Saimul Haq Satti, petitioned the court arguing that the elevation is an emergent need in the present delicate circumstances in the country.

During the hearing, the court asked the petitioner’s counsel if there was any provision in the law regarding the prayer in the petition. To this, the counsel admitted that there was no such provision.

The petitioner has made the federation through the Cabinet secretary, the Prime Minister through the principal secretary to the PM, and the Defence secretary respondents in the petition.

Former president Ayub Khan is the only person to have been granted the rank of field marshal in the history of the Pakistan Army. Khan, who became president of Pakistan in 1958 after a military coup, gave himself the promotion in 1965.

Earlier arguments

The counsel had argued that the COAS be promoted to the rank of field marshal for services rendered to protect national security and safeguard the frontiers of Pakistan in accordance with the National Action Plan (NAP) and specifically for the success of Operation Zarb-e-Azab.

While calling him a “trailblazer,” Satti said that Gen Raheel provided visionary leadership to the people as well as the security forces and, being a role model, he gave a new direction and hope to the nation in consonance with the constitutional frontiers of Pakistan.

He added that the army chief also initiated NAP to safeguard the geographical boundaries of Pakistan and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

“The exemplary, outstanding and professional performance during peace and war time with total dedication and devotion by attaining the highest standards and mastery in battlefield,” he said, adding that the “COAS needs national appreciation, award and recognition.”

The petitioner notes that Gen Sharif was also awarded the second highest civilian award, Hilal-e-Imtiaz.

Gen Raheel was appointed COAS on November 27, 2013, replacing Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani upon his retirement.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 19^th, 2016.