The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has reserved its ruling on a petition seeking the status of field marshal for the incumbent chief of army staff (COAS).
The petition was filed by a lawyer, Sardar Adnan Saleem Khan, and cites the prime minister and the secretaries of defence and cabinet division as respondents.
The petitioners have requested the court to direct the respondents to elevate Gen Sharif to the rank of field marshal.
“Does the constitution allow us to appoint a field marshal?” Justice Amir Farooq inquired from the petitioner, who replied that “the constitution doesn’t allow but the example of General Ayub exists.”
Our correspondent says the court is likely to issue its ruling today.
According to the petition, Gen Sharif, whose three-year term will be up on November 27, 2016, has launched the successful Zarb-e-Azab operation, which has countered the plans of terrorist organisations, and that the operation is still going on.
The petition argues that the army chief has initiated and formulated the National Action Plan and is also monitoring the ongoing China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project.
The petition argues that it is “a universal and divine law that whosoever rendered his services for the nation and humanity at a larger scale in an extraordinary, exemplary and selfless manner he shall be elevated to the highest level of military hierarchy”.
