The federal government has stated its willingness to back a proposal to extend the tenure of chief of the army staff’s office from three to four years.
Sources close to the prime minister’s office said, on the condition of anonymity, that the proposal was informally floated with the top military office. But the incumbent of the office suggested that the government should reconsider the proposal and implement it from the tenure of the next chief of the army staff, who will take charge in November 2016.
Army Chief General Raheel Sharif, they claim, effectively communicated to the federal government that he may not be interested in any extension in his office tenure. There has been a lot of media speculation round this particular question.
The idea of extension in tenures is a continuation of former military General Pervez Musharraf who gave extensions to himself from 2001 to 2008 and then General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani who was given extensions in his normal tenure and he ended up serving in the role for six years.
Defence analysts believe that Gen Raheel is setting historic precedents by focusing on core issues that confront the country and seemingly may not be interested in setting up an example that is not considered healthy for institution building.
