RAWALPINDI: Intelligence agencies have sent a report to the provincial government after banners were found hanging from the elevated track of the metro bus service in the cantonment area, asking the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif to stay in office after his tenure is over, according to a security official.

The banners contained photographs of the army chief and requested him not to retire along with the name of a political party, Move on Pakistan.

The banners, which contained messages like “khuda ke liye, janey ki batein janey do”, were taken down by the special branch and officials of other intelligence agencies and were sent to the authorities concerned. They were also found hanging from street lights and electricity poles on Haider Road, Kashmir Road, Murree Road and in Civil Lanes, where officials of the judiciary and city district administration reside.

The chief organiser of the party, Ali Hashmi told Dawn he had formed the party on January 7, 2013 and had also registered it with the Election Commission.

He said thousands of similar banners had been hung across the country.

“The party’s campaign is for the restoration of peace, education and health and until peace is restored, education and health targets cannot be met,” he said.

Similar posters were also found on the pillars of the elevated track of the metro bus service in Saddar, but they were later removed.

In January, ISPR had announced that General Sharif will not seek nor accept an extension of his office as army chief. The army chief has repeatedly said that he supports the democratic process.

Published in Dawn, July 12th, 2016