Pak army chief to retire on 29 Nov
7 Oct 2013 10:51 PM GMT
Pakistan’s powerful army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani on Sunday declared that he was not seeking any more extension and would retire as scheduled on November 29, laying to rest intense speculation about his future.
‘My tenure ends on 29th November 2013. On that day I will retire. May the Almighty Allah help and guide us all,’ Kayani said in a statement.
Kayani was appointed the army chief by former military ruler Pervez Musharraf in late 2007. He was given an unprecedented three-year extension by then premier Yousuf Raza Gilani in 2010.
In a surprise announcement, he said institutions and traditions are stronger than individuals and must take precedence. He also reposed military’s support to democracy.
‘For quite some time, my current responsibilities and likely future plans have been debated in the media with all sorts of rumours and speculations doing the rounds. The subject of being entrusted with new duties has also come up in several reports,’ he said.
61-year-old Kayani said he was grateful to the political leadership and the nation for reposing their trust in him and Pakistan Army at this important juncture of country’s national history.
‘However, I share the general opinion that institutions and traditions are stronger than individuals and must take precedence,’ he said.
‘My tenure ends on 29th November 2013. On that day I will retire. May the Almighty Allah help and guide us all,’ Kayani said in a statement.
Kayani was appointed the army chief by former military ruler Pervez Musharraf in late 2007. He was given an unprecedented three-year extension by then premier Yousuf Raza Gilani in 2010.
In a surprise announcement, he said institutions and traditions are stronger than individuals and must take precedence. He also reposed military’s support to democracy.
‘For quite some time, my current responsibilities and likely future plans have been debated in the media with all sorts of rumours and speculations doing the rounds. The subject of being entrusted with new duties has also come up in several reports,’ he said.
61-year-old Kayani said he was grateful to the political leadership and the nation for reposing their trust in him and Pakistan Army at this important juncture of country’s national history.
‘However, I share the general opinion that institutions and traditions are stronger than individuals and must take precedence,’ he said.
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