General Raheel Sharif’s firm declaration that he would go to any length to bring about peace in Karachi, has lifted the spirits of those who had been hugely shocked at his firm assurance to the ‘threatened’ politicians that he would not be seeking extension beyond his current tenure which ends in November this year.
The issue is not the Army Chief’s retirement. Infact he has still ten more months at his disposal. The issue is the fate of the operation against corruption, lawlessness and misrule in Karachi. The manner in which the Sindh government is trying to raise obstacles in the way of the Rangers, it is quite evident that we are facing a scenario of a ‘war of wills’. A perception was taking birth that the Army’s WILL is on the retreat. This perception gained momentum with the Army Chief’s declaration that he would call it a day in November 2016.
But only two days after that declaration has come this firm resolve on the part of the Army Chief that the forces of corruption, misrule and lawlessness need not go into celebrations.
One hopes that the Army will go after those monsters of greed and graft too who are not Karachi-specific.
The whole country needs a massive cleaning-up operation, even if it amounts to a provisional good bye to the document called Constitution.