THIS is with reference to Irfan Husain’s article ‘The best of both worlds’ (Dec 15). I regret to say that for the sake of two per cent of the military the writer has degraded the remaining 98 per cent of armed forces. I am deeply hurt.

While agreeing that he does have a point, the language shows that he has used his pen to vent his rage against the armed forces.

At present, on TV talk shows, we are watching a well-planned propaganda to malign and degrade the ‘only institution’ left in the country. It does not behove scholars like Mr Husain to be part of this vicious scheme.

We keep civil servants in very high esteem. They are the best.

But the army officers too are selected on merit through a well defined and rigorous mental and physical tests and their further training is a perpetual phenomenon.

In the fields of civil service, the army officers have also played a very constructive role.

It would have been better if the writer had also mentioned a few names who performed better in civil services.

Can he deny the capabilities and role of Sahibzada Yaqub Khan? The bottom line is: let the civil service with civil servants, but don’t ridicule the army by using phrases like ‘best of both worlds’.

The writer may be enjoying a comfortable retired life, thousands of retired army officers are still working in private and public sectors to earn their bread and butter.

The corporate sector, too, acknowledges their expertise. The writer should tender an apology to the armed forces.

LT COL (Rtd) SYED ASAD ALI WAHIDI     Karachi