An extension for the army chief (VI)

KARACHI: This is with reference to Raza Rumi’s article “Good luck, General Kayani” (July 25). It was former US president Jimmy Carter who proposed the idea of a single term for the office of the president of the US; and also increasing its duration from four to six years. He was of the view that the challenges facing the high office should not be comprised when the sitting president starts planning his next election campaign after three years of taking over his office. Since Carter left public office to work for the world in general, his stature has increased with every passing day. He is one of the most respected global statesmen of the present era.

No one is indispensable. General Musharraf also forgot this basic fact. Some senior Pakistani generals who have otherwise faded in history carry great respect not only in Pakistan but also abroad. Among them I can recall Sahibzada Yaqub Ali Khan, Abdul Waheed Kakar and Jehangir Karamat. The great George Washington also did not accept a third term in office.

The army chief should have declined the extension.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 27^th, 2010.