ISLAMABAD: A petition seeking the status of field marshal for the incumbent chief of army staff (COAS) has been filed in the Islamabad High Court (IHC).

The petition was filed by two lawyers, Raja Samiul Haq Satti and Sardar Saleem Khan, and cites the prime minister and the secretaries of defence and cabinet division as respondents.

The petition starts with details about Gen Raheel Sharif and his family. According to the petition, the COAS turned 60 four months ago and was born on June 16, 1956 into the family of Major Mohammad Sharif.

It goes on to say that the COAS’ elder brother, Major Shabbir Sharif, was killed during the 1971 war with India and was awarded the Nishan-i-Haider, which is Pakistan’s highest military award and that his maternal uncle, Major Raja Aziz Bhatti, was also awarded the Nishan-i-Haider during the 1965 war between Indian and Pakistan.

He was also awarded the Hilal-i-Imtiaz, which is the second highest civilian award and an honour that is given to both civilians and military officers of the armed forces.

According to the petition, Gen Sharif, whose three-year term will be up on November 27, 2016, has launched the successful Zarb-e-Azab operation, which has countered the plans of terrorist organisations, and that the operation is still going on.

The petition argues that the army chief has initiated and formulated the National Action Plan and is also monitoring the ongoing China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project.

The petition argues that it is” a universal and divine law that whosoever rendered his services for the nation and humanity at a larger scale in an extraordinary, exemplary and selfless manner he shall be elevated to the highest level of military hierarchy”, and requests the court to direct the respondents to elevate Gen Sharif to the rank of field marshal.

Published in Dawn, October 16th, 2016