ISLAMABAD: The government told the Senate on Wednesday that former Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) retired General Raheel Sharif has not sought a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the government to take on any new role.

This was the first official statement regarding the former army chief’s future plans following reports that he would head a Saudi Arabia-led 39-nation military coalition.

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, who had hinted at the appointment of Gen Sharif as commander of the Saudi coalition with the government’s knowledge just days ago, backtracked from his stance before the Senate, saying that no formal request for granting an NOC had been received from the ex-COAS.

He said that a decision on such a request, if and when received, would be taken in accordance with the relevant law. He said that under the rules, an NOC would be required from the defence ministry by any retired officer seeking re-employment in a government department.

If permission is required for domestic re-employment, the same would also apply to a job abroad, says Khawaja Asif

He also cited a circular issued by the Ministry of Defence on Feb 26, 1998, and Esta Code provisions, but said this was only meant for appointment of retired military officers in civilian roles such as the head of a corporation or an adviser within the country.

The minister, however, said that if there was an NOC requirement for re-employment within the country, clearance would also be required for a position abroad.

He replied in the negative when Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani asked if Gen Sharif had sought permission from his parent department. He said the former COAS had proceeded to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah and not for “this purpose”.

Mr Asif said Gen Sharif had said that he was going for Umrah, adding that the former army chief returned to Pakistan on Monday evening and had not yet informed the defence ministry or General Headquarters about any such offer.

Answering another question from the chair, he said that rules would be amended to deal with such situations and a request for an NOC, when received, would be examined in this background.

Mr Asif promised to inform the house if such a request was received.

Sartaj Aziz, adviser to the prime minister on foreign affairs, who had been summoned by the chair to explain the foreign policy implications of Gen Sharif’s appointment, said he would make a statement if such a situation developed.

Expressing concern over the former army chief’s supposed appointment as the head of a Saudi-led military alliance, PPP Senator Farhatullah Babar warned the government that this could have far-reaching consequences for Pakistan.

He said that the military alliance was ostensibly formed to fight terrorism. However, by deliberately keeping out Iran, Iraq and Syria, it was widely perceived as a sectarian group. “What will happen if Iran forms a similar military alliance tomorrow and invites a sympathetic retired Pakistani general to head it?”

Mr Babar recalled that the joint sitting of parliament had unanimously said no to any participation in the military alliance, adding that if a recently retired general went straight from GHQ to head the same, it will send the wrong and message.

He said Gen Sharif had earned the unprecedented respect of the entire nation and heading the new military alliance would not add to his standing.

He said that the former COAS had announced his decision to retire from the army ten months ahead of the retirement date, for which he was greatly admired and applauded by all. All that applause would die down if he joined the alliance within days of his retirement and tongues would start wagging about the early announcement, he said.

The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s Azam Swati also advised Gen Sharif to decline the offer, saying the consequences of joining the alliance should be kept in mind.

The Awami National Party’s Ilyas Bilour warned that Pakistan would turn into Syria if this happened and also referred to the decision taken at a joint sitting of parliament, prompting the Senate chairman to ask as to why the joint sitting’s decision was being made disputable.

Minister for States and Frontier Regions retired Gen Abdul Qadir Baloch was snubbed by the chairman when he pointed out that no statement had been issued yet by the Saudi government and it was inappropriate to hold a discussion on the basis of assumptions. “I think I know how to run the house. There was sufficient cause when notice had been taken,” Mr Rabbani remarked.

PPP parliamentary leader in the Senate Taj Haider was of the view that the Defence Ministry should ask Gen Sharif to issue a statement to clarify the situation.

Though a formal comment from the horse’s mouth on this development was still awaited, retired Maj Gen Ejaz Awan, in interviews to different private TV channels, quoted Gen Sharif as saying that he was aware of the rules of the Pakistan Army and would accept the offer only after security clearance and permission from the government.

If the offer is accepted, Gen Sharif will be the first-ever former COAS to obtain employment abroad after his retirement. Retired Lt Gen Ahmad Shuja Pasha, former head of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), is the only example of a high-profile retired army officer to have served a foreign country. He was appointed adviser on health affairs by the UAE government after his retirement.

Published in Dawn, January 12th, 2017