Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif
named a new military chief, bypassing seniority to install a low-profile army
general in the powerful position. Sharif’s selection of a new army chief of
staff after months of deliberations comes as Pakistan is struggling to contain
violence by militants that has killed more than 45,000 civilians and soldiers
over the past decade. Pakistan’s military is facing renewed tension with India
and is concerned about security in neighboring Afghanistan as most NATO troops
prepare to withdraw by the end of next year. IT IS said that the army chief is
the most powerful man in Pakistan. Our PM gave the name of successor just two
days before the outgoing chief, General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, a former spymaster
turned double-term army chief, was due to retire. Lieutenant General Raheel
Sharif will control a vast army but it is important to know that he has no
relation with Prime Minister. Now here question arises that why he delayed? He
was very much careful about the appointment of Chief of army staff because the
last time when he appointed Musharaf, his appointee ousted him in a coup a year
later. Many argue that it is an attempt by PM to assert civil authority over an
army. Army sees itself as the guarantor of the nation and also became the reason
of Pakistan’s deepest problems. By mounting a coup, it has only weakened
political class. However, this political class is also responsible whose
corruption paved the way for an army to intervene again. Pakistan has a history
of disastrous military adventures. The country is now paying a terrible price
for its sponsorship of foreign terror. It has spawned dozens of local extremist
groups attacking Pakistan itself. Since 2001 nearly 50,000 Pakistanis have died
in terror-related violence. General Sharif’s appointment was a surprise.
However, the news is that he shares General Kayani’s thinking on domestic
militancy. Kayani, who was popular in Pakistan and helped stabilize relations
with the United States in the aftermath of the killing of Osama bin Laden,
formally handed control over to Raheel Sharif.
Hasan Askari Rizvi, a Lahore-based military analyst, said Raheel Sharif’s low
profile probably appealed to the prime minister. “The prime minister could have
been looking for someone who is totally focused on military affairs, given his
past bitter experiences with military leadership,” Rizvi said. Elsewhere
irritation with civilian government is already flowering among junior officers.
But there is no mood to take over because senior command now understands this
thing that it will only create more problem for their country and themselves as
well. Mr Musharraf’s eight years in power were a disaster. It created a very bad
image of army among the Pakistani masses. Now civilian politicians successfully
transformed the power from one elected government to another. Good governance is
the best way for civilian rulers to keep the army off their backs.