Resentment in the military rank and file was evident as generals met for the corps commanders’ conference at the General Headquarters on Wednesday.
Army Chief General Raheel Sharif, who presided over the meeting, had earlier in the week publicly stated the concerns when he told irate Special Services soldiers in Tarbela that army “will resolutely preserve its own dignity and institutional pride”.
Gen Raheel’s statement had effectively blown away the façade of civilian and military leadership being on the same page.
Although not stated in so many words and masked as “unfair criticism”, the anger is because of former president retired Gen Pervez Musharraf’s trial on charges of high treason and what is being seen as his public humiliation by some ministers.
The generals are also said to be displeased with the manner in which the government has proceeded with the peace dialogue despite their reservations.
According to an officer who witnessed the proceedings of the Corps Commanders Conference, the intensity of the feelings on these issues remained high.
