Leaders from key political parties have welcomed Pakistan's hugely popular and powerful military chief General Raheel Sharif’s decision to retire at end of his tenure this year.
General Raheel Sharif confirmed today he will not seek extension in his service and will retire at the end of his tenure, ending media speculation surrounding his powerful position.
He is due to step down in November this year.
“Pakistan Army is a great institution,” army spokesman Lt. General Asim Bajwa quoted Sharif as saying on Twitter. "I dont believe in extension and will retire on the due date.”
“Efforts to (root) out terrorism will continue with full vigor and resolve. Pakistan's national interest is supreme and will be safe guarded at all costs,” he further said.
The decision has been welcomed by political parties.
Gen Raheel says he doesn’t believe in extension
“The army chief has proved that he is a high-principled person… This decision has enhanced his respect and will prosper army’s image,” said senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader, Shah Mehmood Qureshi.
Qureshi went on saying that General Sharif took effective measures against terrorism and united the nation for implementation of National Action Plan (NAP).
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) senior leader Qamar Zaman Kaira and Awami Muslim League (AML) chief, Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed, hailed army chief’s decision, saying that it will further enhance image of armed forces.
Sharif was named army chief in 2013, when his predecessor General Ashfaq Kayani's term which had been extended by three years -- came to an end.
Former military leaders Pervez Musharraf and Zia ul-Haq also extended their own rule during their time in power.
The announcement came less than a week after militants killed 21 people in attack on Bacha Khan university in Charsadda.
Under Sharif the Pakistani military launched an offensive in the tribal areas in June 2014, where militants had previously operated with impunity.
The army has killed thousands of insurgents and swept many others over the porous border into Afghanistan, contributing to a boost in security in 2015.
Pakistan has been ruled by the military for more than half its 69-year history and the armed forces are widely seen as controlling defence and foreign policy.
Whoever takes over Sharif's role will face an array of daunting security challenges.
