Gen Raheel retirement ‘Whole Nation IS SAD’

ISLAMABAD - Unlike some of his predecessors, Army Chief General Raheel Sharif is retiring next week with a great legacy for Pakistan Army amid public applause for turning the tide against militancy and terrorism in the country.

Without any taint of scandal or controversy, General Raheel Sharif is retiring on 28th November, and the name of his successor will be announced in the next few days.

Since there is no precedent in the history of Pakistan Army that the Chief of the force announced retirement plans almost one year before, some elements gave a twist to his retirement as result of a deal with the government. The speculation followed the strong rumours that had been circling for the past few months.

“This is rubbish. There is no deal behind the retirement,” Senator from the ruling PML-N Lt. Gen (retd) Abdul Qayyum told The Nation.

He said as Army Chief General Raheel Sharif has earned many credits for which he will be long remembered.

“It is unprecedented in the history of Pakistan Army that its Chief announces retirement plans and abides by his words. None of his predecessors had done that,” said Lt Gen Qayyum said. 

He was of the view that General Raheel Sharif had extended all-out support to the government, created 29 wings of FC for Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces, created a special division for the security of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). 

Moreover, he had been successful in breaking the back of terrorists across the country through the Operation Zarb-e-Azb.

In January this year, General Raheel issued a statement through the military media wing ISPR that he will not seek extension in his service and will retire on the due date.

Regardless of the political interpretation of his statement, in military terms, General Raheel Sharif’s message was directed to his institution to do away with the wrong impression following the extension given to his predecessor General (retd) Ashfaq Pervaiz Kiyani.

General Sharif’s statement of retiring on due date was widely appreciated by all the political forces and analysts in the country.

In January 2014, General Raheel Sharif launched an all-out military operation Zarb-e-Azb against terrorists with a primary focus on purging North Waziristan of Al-Qaeda and affiliates TTP and Khyber Agency in FATA and destroyed the terrorist networks.

In North Waziristan re-establishing government writ and retrieving territory from Al-Qaeda and its affiliates mainly the defunct TTP, which used the area as an epicentre for global terrorism, was a challenging task for the military leadership.

In North Waziristan re-establishing government writ and retrieving territory from Al-Qaeda and its affiliates mainly the defunct TTP, which used the area as an epicentre for global terrorism, was a challenging task for the military leadership.

Consequently, the Operation Zarb-e-Azb proved as a multiplier factor for other restive parts of the tribal region and helped in restoring law and order across the country.

The successful Operation Zarb-e-Azb carried out under his leadership also changed the situation in the port of Karachi.

“This is very positive development. General Raheel Sharif stayed true to his words,” leading defence analyst Lt. Gen (retd) Talat Masood said.

Speaking with The Nation, he said this would not only strengthen Pakistan Army but would also help democracy in the country.

“General Raheel Sharif’s approach would encourage young blood to serve Pakistan Army,” he added.