Pakistan never had plan to extend Gen’s Raheel Sharif tenure

Pakistan defence minister Khawaja Mohammed Asif on Wednesday said the government never considered giving an extension to Army Chief Raheel Sharif before the top general himself refused to take one.

“The matter of giving extension in office term to the Army Chief was not under consideration at any level and there was no file on the table of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for granting extension of service to the Army Chief,” he told a Pakistani television channel.

Mr Asif said some vested interests tried to whip up the matter of giving an extension to Gen. Raheel Sharif.

“The matter of extension in the Army Chief’s service tenure has nothing to do with reality,” he added.

He said Gen. Sharif has certainly introduced a healthy trend in the country.

On Monday, the Army Chief had dispelled speculations about extension in his service, saying he did not believe in extension and would retire on due date. “I don’t believe in extension and will retire on the due date,” he had said.

Mr Asif said the credit for fortification of democracy should go to Gen. Sharif, stressing that institutions and not individuals should be strengthened in Pakistan.

He said Pakistan has improved its international stature by fighting the war against terrorism, which is one of the focal points of Gen. Sharif’s term so far.

Meanwhile, President Mamnoon Hussain on Wednesday said the Pakistani nation and the armed forces were fully capable of countering internal and external threats, including terrorism from the country.

“I warn the terrorists and their sponsors to have no doubt that the nation and the armed forces will not rest until the elimination of last terrorist from the country’s soil,” the President said at convocation ceremony held here at the National University of Science and Technology.

President Hussain said success against terrorism has been achieved to a great extent and stressed that the credit belonged to the resilient nation and the brave armed forces who rendered immense sacrifices for the country.

He asserted the need for analysing the factors that contributed to the rise of extremism and militancy in the country to effectively take steps to counter it in the future.

The President said in the contemporary world, the defence-related matters has become inter-linked with politics, diplomacy, economy and communications and emphasised the importance of defence studies in this context.

He said in the wake of terrorism that took its strong roots over the decades, it was important that the young officers and soldiers of armed forces be trained to counter the modern-day security challenges.