Pakistan

From 3 to 4 years: Govt backs longer tenure for army chief

Incumbent COAS may not be interested in any extension

Naveed Miraj September 29, 2015

PHOTO: ISPR

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has dropped the clearest hint yet that it is ready to back a proposal to extend the tenure of chief of the army staff’s office from three to four years.

Sources close to the prime minister’s office said, on the condition of anonymity, that the proposal was informally floated with the top military office. But the incumbent of the office suggested that the government should reconsider the proposal and implement it from the tenure of the next chief of the army staff, who will take charge in November 2016.

Read: Army chief arrives in Germany to address security conference

Army Chief General Raheel Sharif, they claim, effectively communicated to the federal government that he may not be interested in any extension in his office tenure. There has been a lot of media speculation round this particular question.

The idea of extension in tenures is a continuation of former military General Pervez Musharraf who gave extensions to himself from 2001 to 2008 and then General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani who was given extensions in his normal tenure and he ended up serving in the role for six years.

Read: Raheel Sharif, the general who means business

Defence analysts believe that Gen Raheel is setting historic precedents by focusing on core issues that confront the country and seemingly may not be interested in setting up an example that is not considered healthy for institution building.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 29^th, 2015.

COMMENTS (20)

imran | 8 years ago | Reply He should stay till the job is done

S.R.H. Hashmi | 9 years ago | Reply The report states that the army chief has not shown much interest in the proposal to increase his term from thee to four years. This reminds me of a joke about a passenger caught by the customs staff at an airport in a developing country. He was carrying stuff far in excess of what he was allowed to carry and to make it worse, he had not even declared it. The custom Officer was furious at him. So he offered a small bribe to the officer but that threw him into rage and he shouted “You are trying to corrupt me, you tried to bribe a government officer, I will throw you into prison for that where you will rot for the rest of your life.” The passenger was visibly shaken and became panicky, at the thought of rotting in the prison in a distant land. So, in order to avoid ending up like that, he increased his offer ten-fold, and the officer just took it. Could it be that with the former chiefs having multiple of three-year terms, one year extension is too paltry? And while the present army chief may not want to stay even a day beyond his three-year term, what about the rest of the Generals; one of whom will be the next army chief. Having enjoyed the civilian powers by being member of apex-committees, the more ambitious among them may not want to remain confined to mundane military career? And while the former army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani had recalled a rather large number of military officers working in civilian departments on secondment, the present army chief has given his generals a taste of civilian powers which some of them may not want to let go. And that means the fears of a military takeover are not entirely unfounded. And a female astrologer who claimed to have correctly predicted Nawaz Sharif’s exit at a time when he was enjoying heavy mandate has stated that the blood moon would adversely affect the government, and that is also a cause for concern. And to stop the Rangers from investigating high profile corruption cases in Sindh in collaboration of FIA and NAB, the Sindh government has come up with a clever ploy and has plans to establish ‘Sindh Accountability Commission’ with the sole authority to investigate all corruption cases in Sindh. And even for investigating corruption cases related to a federal subject, the federal agencies will have to take permission from the Sindh Accountability Commission before starting the probe. And the Sindh government is planning to present the draft bill in the Sindh Assembly as early as next week, and with Peoples Party enjoying simple majority in the Assembly, the draft could become a law pretty soon. And while the FIA and NAB were not very active in Punjab – neither seemed to be others who claim to have set out on a mission to cleanse Pakistan - with the creation of Sindh Accountability Commission, corruption cases even in Sindh will be out of their jurisdiction. And that also means that if the higher ups really want to cleanse Pakistan, they will have to do something drastic which makes all these evasive measures redundant. So, things seem to be coming to a critical juncture and we do not know which way they will go. However, as far as the masses are concerned, neither the so-called democracy nor the military rule have been beneficial to them in the long run even though, in the early stages, military rule has been popular with the masses due to accelerated activity level. Karachi

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Mubashir | 9 years ago | Reply Its not the extension its the same policy which matters.

Rex Minor | 9 years ago | Reply @Waqas: @sabi: Try to live most of the time in battle dress and not be seen in uniform in ones own village. Rex Minor

ABK Ind | 9 years ago | Reply Very strange as an Indian to think that there is so much of debate on the extension of Raheel Sharif. He is an army officer & should retire once his term has been completed. Rather if he is so admired he should be encouraged to enter politics & serve the nation,

Dr sajid | 9 years ago | Reply Extension of COAS Gen Raheel is in the utmost interest of Pakistan

Faisal | 9 years ago | Reply That's how a leader thinks...I feel that he is the most competent and sincere COAS , we have had till now. with him gone it will be a loss ...but no body is indispensable....he is right we must build institutions and not personalities.... and gen Raheel is setting up a personal example. I pray for his longevity

Abu Noor | 9 years ago | Reply Gen Raheel should set an example by not accepting the extension. Instead, he should request government to have Gen Rizwan as the new COAS for the continuation of the ongoing campaign against terrorism.

pakone | 9 years ago | Reply Pakistan without General Raheel Sharif, unthinkable! We need you sir!

Bilal | 9 years ago | Reply Perhaps the most important part of leadership, be it govt. institution or corporate world is to have a succession plan in place. To groom the next lot is a sign that the job has if not completed has been well done. Gen. Raheel would be setting a unique precedent in this regards if he were to decline extension and pass on the baton to the next coas (who I believe should be equally capable). Pakistan army is much more than any COAS. Its a institution that Pakistanis count on. Let there be no dearth of capable men.

salma | 9 years ago | Reply Nooooooooo. Even the thought of not seeing gen raheel as coas kills me. This is how every pakistani feels. Pkease sir we want you for 10 more years. Please please pkease.

Raghu | 9 years ago | Reply Nawaz is very secure with the General and PMLN does not want to try out any new Generals as their past experience with Musharraf was not at all good. Even General Raheel cannot fix the problem of Karachi unless and until the police of Karachi are fixed. Rangers are temporary solution.

Waqas | 9 years ago | Reply If he is not interested in extension, it is actually a good decision for army as an institution. I respect if this is how it is.

Usman | 9 years ago | Reply I hope this is true and COAS does not accept any extension. No COAS should accept any extension, this will go a long way in strengthening the institution. The next army chief will also be a Pakistani general, he will be imported from Israel or India, so dear lovers of general shareef, stay cool.

roadkashehzada | 9 years ago | Reply ideally Gen Raheel shud retire abit early and get ready for 2018 elections. that way he can stay in power for 5 years. i hope all those who are asking for extra constitutional take over can wait for 2 years and wont flock behind new savior (COAS)

Bari | 9 years ago | Reply The reason he doesn't want it done now, is that he wants a full extra term. Three more years instead of one. And if this is implemented at the time he suggests, then four more years.

Fawad khan | 9 years ago | Reply Army is more than General Raheel or any other General. It is an institution. Generals will come and go but Army as an institution will remain. Extension goes against the basic concept of institution. An Army Chief, no matter how good, should not get an extension. Even the office of Prime Ministership should be limited to 2 times only.

sabi | 9 years ago | Reply He is going to stay there till end 2019. Country needs him and above all democracy needs him.

Ali | 9 years ago | Reply Even thinking of that Raheel Sharif will not be COAS , I feel like Pakistan is getting orphan.

the Skunk | 9 years ago | Reply Wow! This is news. COAS, Sir! Please think it over. If the man who started the ball rolling does not want to roll it to its logical conclusion, then he is letting the ordinary Pakistani civilians down, like many and me. The accountability and recovery process has not started and Local Bodies elections are yet to be held. Although terrorism has tapered but not to the level that NACTA can control it. By the way where is NACTA? Still being cold-shouldered by the civilian government. The political and economic terrorists are still at large and are just waiting to pounce on the cities. COAS, Sir! Please think it over. Salams

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