Comments on: The best of both worlds

By: Waheed Arshad

Waheed Arshad — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 00:57:46 +0000

Officers of the armed forces should only serve in the armed forces and then retire honorably. Whereas civil servants (bureaucrats) should only serve in the civil service. Diplomatic assignments should only be given to the trained Foreign Service officers or to the leaders of the civil society. Army and civil servants should also be prevented from leading Government owned companies such as the steel mill. Such Government owned companies until privatized, should be run by those who have a proven track record in the private enterprise as business leaders, so that they can well prepare these companies for eventual privatization.

By: Haseeb

Haseeb — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 23:17:47 +0000

Well written Article Mr. Irfan.
They might be well trained in military tactics or other fields, but as far as public administration is concerned they have no idea how to deal with the public.neither they know how to implement the public policy in letter and spirit.
Apart from that in a country like pakistan where jobs are scarce, giving jobs to serving or even retired army officials is unjustified and is equal to looting the rights of ordinary citizens.
We all must unite to stop this looting and ask our representatives to devise laws protecting the right of ordinary citizens of getting job in public service.

By: Asim

Asim — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 18:29:01 +0000

Its interesting how see how senior military personnel behave in public. A friend of mine who works in a high-tech firm in Canada recently told me that a Pakistani general descended upon his company with his entourage. The general would only shake hands with those who he deemed worthy of his attention i.e. senior management. It is as if hiding behind the arrogance is the only way to conceal their utter incompetence. According to my friend the general reminded him of the arrogance of the Russian generals during his time in Russian military. I could very well imagine the relationship however, while Russian military serves the civilian government, Pakistani civilians serve the military. Hopefully that will change one day.

By: Parvez

Parvez — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 18:23:15 +0000

This was definitely one of your better articles, simply because what you say comes across as true.
I like the way you show the deterioration in human capital at the highest levels.

By: Masood Hussain

Masood Hussain — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 17:42:26 +0000

Not that i am in favour of inducting retired or serving army personnel in cvilian domain,my experience is that both catagories of service men have same approach to the diplomatic jobs they tend to enjoy being staying abroad at the expence of public money,doing nothing much for their country.May be there are few exceptions like Seema Baloch.

By: Qamar

Qamar — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 16:35:42 +0000

Why Steel Mills was profitable under the chairmanship of a retired General? Why PIA reached its Zenith under retired Air Marshal Noor Khan? Why retired Admiral Ahsan was the only sane voice prior to start of military action in East Pakistan?

By: G.A.

G.A. — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 16:16:59 +0000

Perhaps CSS graduates, bankers, airline pilots and police officers should also be allowed into top military posts after retirement. It’s only fair. It’s not like the generals have given us much to celebrate with their performances in the military or civilian institutions.

By: sja

sja — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 15:34:27 +0000

I like the title of your current columns because besides Seema Baloch retirement and heading back to home, there is news in the air that the Supreme Court of Pakistan has order another great patriot to appear before the Apex court on January 7, 2013. See how varied Pakistanis are by their choices, one patriotic and proud to serve in foreign service of Pakistan and maintain good relations with foreign country like Sri Lanka, now see we have another great patriot who serves in Pakistan from foreign so you see best of the both worlds.
I am pretty sure Seema, is Pakistani by allegiance but the great patriot has UK nationality also, so we will see if he has any IMMUNITY from the JURISDICITON OF SUPREME COURT. Just like the President has immunity and I am pretty sure, a foreign national is also or should be immune, from Pakistani judicial jurisdiction.

There are Pakistanis who serve in Pakistan Foreign Service so loyally and there are Pakistanis in Foreign Jurisdictions who serve so intensely in PAKISTAN. YOU ARE SO RIGHT, IRFAN BAHI THAT IT IS THE BEST OF THE BOTH WORLDS ——————– SERVING PAKISTAN.

By: Imran

Imran — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 12:06:47 +0000

The last sentence is most interesting. Would be nice to see an SSP or a DCO posted as a Brigade commander. I’m sure they’ll do fine. Just gotta play some golf, inaugurate a bakery or two, jog in the evening, distribute some trophies at Army Public School and finally get a plot in Defence. See, easy peasy.

By: NASAH (USA)

NASAH (USA) — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 11:17:45 +0000

It is at least NOT the army’s fault that the school grade educated retired army officers are being picked for highly complex civilian jobs.