Pakistan

Army rejects shady inference about Gen Raheel’s plot

Says ex-COAS allotted 90 acres under constitutional provision

Our Correspondent January 27, 2017

Former Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif. PHOTO: ONLINE

ISLAMABAD: The army defended its former chief General Raheel Sharif against attempts to blow out of proportion the allotment of prime agriculture land to him, saying it was neither unusual nor unconstitutional.

In a strong rejoinder to reports questioning the allotment of 90 acres to General (retd) Raheel Sharif, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) clarified that land was allotted strictly in accordance with the ‘constitutional provisions.’

Land allotment to Raheel Sharif under constitutional provision, clarifies ISPR

The military’s media wing said in a statement that the issue of allotment of agricultural land to army officers and soldiers was being debated and conjectured for the last few days. “In this regard it may be known that such allotments are given through constitutional provision. Allotment to former chief of army staff Gen (retd) Raheel Sharif is also under the same provision and through government/army procedures,” ISPR clarified.

What was significant in the army’s rejoinder is that it contained a warning that this debate “with intent of maligning the army also has the potential to create misunderstandings between state institutions thus considered detrimental to existing cohesion.”

Sources said the former army chief was upset since the reports appeared in the media questioning the allotment of land to him. They said Gen Raheel believed he was unnecessarily being defamed by blowing the allotment out of proportion. It is believed that Gen Raheel approached GHQ to issue a clarification on the controversy.

Land allotment: ‘Some elements’ trying to defame ex-army chief

Military sources have been playing down the hype over the issue since the story first appeared in a section of media. But the army’s move to publicly issue a statement suggested that it would not allow further criticism against Gen Raheel.

The allotment of 90 acres has triggered a debate in the country with some questioning as to how the retired army chief could be given prime land. Military sources clarified that he was allotted 50 acres as a four star general and 40 acres for serving as the army chief. Sources said the land was meant only for agricultural use and cannot be used for any commercial activity.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 27^th, 2017.

COMMENTS (11)

Mohammed Ali Rizvi | 7 years ago | Reply This is definitely creating a precedent. In course of time all land will be with Army Generals and Colonels. The farmers who have to grow crops will be without land. Dear people of Pakistan, try and not become a Banana Republic. With these silly provisions in your constitution, you seem to be on the way to becoming one. Regards, Mohammed Ali Rizvi Toronto

ABCD | 7 years ago | Reply X-General Raheel is a self conscious fine human being who values his dignity more than any thing else. Within few days, you may hear that he courteously refused to take the land. Some people with vested interest who never pulled on well with him during his tenure, deliberately leaked it which was going on without public notice since years.

VIEW MORE COMMENTS

Parvez | 7 years ago | Reply When nothing happened after the DAWN leaks which were termed a ' security breach ' ......this was expected.

Khan | 7 years ago | Reply We have a right to criticize the grant of such lands to retired officers. We are living in a democracy not a military autocracy. Military media wing should not have given inferences that it will not tolerate criticism because it is not their job to pressurize the public. No where in the world such statements are issued

Haji Atiya | 7 years ago | Reply @Adnan Siddiqui: Remember that temporary island that appeared off the coast of Balochistan a few years back after the earthquake in Iran ? Well the Army even made claim to that to start some Defence Housing project there ! Good thing it submerged !

illpopo | 7 years ago | Reply Relax guys, this is just one out of many other allotments and perks! The minimum value of this prime "Agricultural" land is around 50 million / acre. System should be blamed or reviewed not the individuals!!

Munir Akram | 7 years ago | Reply Constitution - it is now Army's turn after politicians to exploit it, good to know they have some respect for it though only when it suit them. I thought they will use the usual 'national security' narrative to defend this allotment.

Adnan Siddiqui | 7 years ago | Reply 50% of Pakistan is owned by politicians. 50% is owned by men in uniform. The rest belongs to the ordinary citizens of Pakistan.

Sami Khan | 7 years ago | Reply Who made these laws. When Army ruled the country they themselves crafted these laws for themselves. i think land should be taken back from Raheel Sharif and all other Generals

abreez | 7 years ago | Reply Give our Ex-Crown Prince 90 acres more if he promises that he will not seek to job of ‘security guard’ in Saudi Arab, because the job of ‘security guard’ doesn’t suit the stature of Ex-Crown Prince.

Ranked | 7 years ago | Reply IF this is constitutional, then we surely need another amendment in the constitution, a 22 grade officer allotted this much land in a country where thousands are without a roof is totally absurd, secondly, there should be something that could be compared with another 22nd grade officer from another walk to life, like a Professor who teaches thousands of students during his service. This is totally ridiculous that only military commissioned officers get the incentives.

Replying to X