A CoAS whose conduct guided by deep professional ethics: Raheel Sharif visits troops ahead of his retirement

A week before his retirement, Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) General Raheel Sharif on Monday began a farewell tour of various army outposts across the country Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Asim Bajwa tweeted on Monday. The ISPR announcement has effectively ended speculation that he might seek an extension of his term in his office. "CoAS kicks off his farewell visits beginning from Lhr (Lahore) today. Meets, addresses, thanks huge gathering of soldiers of Army & Rangers at Garrison-1," the ISPR tweet said.
In his address at the Lahore Garrison, General Raheel thanked a huge gathering of Army and Rangers troops, saying, "The accomplishment of peace and stability today was no ordinary task. It was our sacrifices and joint national resolve that helped us in off-setting all odds against our country". Defence sources said that General Raheel Sharif is expected to pass on the baton of command to the next army chief at a ceremony to be held by the end of November. A farewell Corps Commander Conference is also likely to be held on November 24- five days before the retirement date of CoAS.
General Raheel will be the first army chief to retire on time in two decades. General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani got an extension while General Pervez Musharraf granted himself extensions while General Jehangir Karamat was sent home prematurely. Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif reportedly said that no consultation on the appointment of new chief of army staff has begun so far. Speaking at a private news channel talk show, the minister said that General Raheel Sharif would continue till November 29 and a decision regarding the new army chief would be possible by November 27.
The senior four Generals are Lieutenant General Maqsood Ahmed (currently on deputation with the UN), Lieutenant General Zubair Mehmood Hayat (Chief of General Staff), Lieutenant General Syed Wajid Hussain (HIT Taxila) and Lieutenant General Ishfaq Nadeem (Corps Commander Multan). Some defence analysts are of the opinion that General Hayat and General Nadeem are among the front-runners.
General Raheel Sharif on January 24, 2016 ended growing speculation about the possibility of an extension in his tenure through a brief statement: "I don't believe in extension and will retire on the due date." The post of Army chief is the most powerful in Pakistan. On November 27, 2013, the government approved General Raheel Sharif's appointment for the post, a position that he took over from Ashfaq Parvez Kayani who retired after a three-year extension on November 29, 2013.