COAS General Raheel Sharif to be made Field Marshal

Lahore: Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif is to be made Field Marshal revealed 24 News HD CEO, Arif Nizami in discussions on the program Debate, News and Analysis (DNA) on Thursday.

Nizami revealed that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and General Raheel Sharif have both agreed with the arrangement. The military and civilian leadership are on same page with this decision. An announcement is likely to place around August 14th or September 6th.

Nizami also said that Nawaz Sharif did not believe in extension whether it is a civilian or a military job. Nawaz Sharif conveyed this sentiment to the military chief which he already agreed with. In fact COAS was reluctant to take extension albeit support from various mysterious circles urging him to take over.

General Raheel Sharif will be Pakistan’s second Field Marshal after Ayub Khan declared himself to the post.

This is a significant moment in Pakistan’s history. General Raheel Sharif has been a spearheading Pakistan’s campaign against terrorism, providing political space for the growth of democracy and playing a pivotal role in the China Pakistan Economic Corridor.

There has been speculation for months in regards to General Raheel Sharif’s future as he is due for retirement in November 2016.

The COAS had previously announced he would not be seeking an extension in his tenure. In January 2016 when Raheel Sharif made the no-extension decision it was expected that speculations about extension in his service would be laid to rest once and for all. However almost three months before army chief’s three-year tenure draws to a close political juggernaut once again hyped it up.