Wednesday, November 27, 2013
Transition of Command Stick
Written by Hadeed Sher
It was the time when i was in my undergraduate studies, i fell in love with books. Books about those who have sacrificed their lives for Pakistan and those who have changed the history of Pakistan. Surprisingly i found most of the books by the military rulers and leaders of Pakistan, most of which were self praising. However one of my friend recommended me books by Lt. Col. (r) Ishfaq Hussain, the GENTLEMEN series and then the most inspiring book i have ever read in my life "Fateh Saboona". This book was about the life of Maj. Shabbir Sharif Shaheed (NH, SJ). I read that book several times.
It was the time when i was in my undergraduate studies, i fell in love with books. Books about those who have sacrificed their lives for Pakistan and those who have changed the history of Pakistan. Surprisingly i found most of the books by the military rulers and leaders of Pakistan, most of which were self praising. However one of my friend recommended me books by Lt. Col. (r) Ishfaq Hussain, the GENTLEMEN series and then the most inspiring book i have ever read in my life "Fateh Saboona". This book was about the life of Maj. Shabbir Sharif Shaheed (NH, SJ). I read that book several times.
For the past few days the news about the appointment of new army chief were in the air. Several names were in the air and the anlysis was based on the seniority lists and their track record, however, being a keen observer of politics of PMLN i was somehow reluctant to agree with the results. My calculations were icnlined that Mian Nawaz Sharif will not appoint the senior most general. Firstly, it is not at all a constitutional criteria and secondly it is at his dicreation to whom he will appoint the new army chief. I was thinking of Gen Raheel Sharif as the new CoAS because his entire family has been in army since partition but never had any political ambitions. In a country where military has ruled and over thrown the democratic governments time and again, this is a great consideration.
Raheel Sharif i think will be the next chief !!
— Hadeed Sher (@HadeedSher) November 26, 2013
My tweet one day prior to the appointment of our new CoAS was based entirely on this single point. Then i tried to find some information about Gen Raheel Sharif on internet but was not able to find what i was looking for. Ultimately i got some information about the new CoAS from the book "Fateh Saboona".
General Raheel Sharif was born in a military family. His father Major (r) Sharif was a humble person. He was the youngest of his family with two elder sisters named Khalida and Najmi. He has two elder brothers named Sec Lt. Mumtaz Sharif (Sitara Bisalat ) and Major Shabbir Sharif (NH, SJ, Sword of Honor). His elder sister Khalida was also married to an army officer Major (r) Sadat Ali who was the adjutant of 6FF during the fight at Saboona. Gen Raheel's life, as understood by the content of the books, is deeply molded by his elder sister Khalida and his brother Major Shabir Sharif. One lesson that was taught to the siblings as well as Gen Raheel in his early life was in Persian "کسب کمال کن کہ عزیز من اشوی ". To do a work that the world loves you. After the shahadat of Shabir Sharif in Saboona in December 1971, the 6FF was called as Shabbir's regiment. Gen Raheel after passing out the Military training at Kakul, joined the regiment of his brother. Gen. Raheel Sharif has the honor of being the chief of staff of two corps i.e 30 and 12 corps in Gujranwala and Quetta respectively.
The most important thing about the appointment of Gen Raheel Sharif as CoAS is the strengthening of the fragile democratic process in Pakistan. The Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif as he always do did not disclosed the name of the new CoAS to anyone. He however, listened to his close aides and thoroughly read about the reports sent by the Defense Ministry. The PM having the discretionary powers to appoint the new CoAS used it effectively to appoint Gen Raheel Sharif (Third in seniority list) as the new CoAS. The transition of command stick from Gen Ashfaq Pervaiz Kiani to Gen Raheel Sharif is a beginning of a new era and will certainly improve the civil military relationships as well as to esteem the respect of democracy in Pakistan.
