THIS is apropos of the front-page news, ‘Kayani meets Nawaz in Lahore’ (May 19).

There is nothing unusual about paying a courtesy call by the army general to prime minister-designate Nawaz Sharif, the chief of the PML-N.

But given the history of Pakistan it is indeed not desirable that an army chief should congratulate the chief of a political party on his/her success in a general election.

An army chief should ideally remain impartial to the political colour in Islamabad.

For the sake of democracy, the army shall always be subordinate to an elected government.

Can we expect — or will the media equally highlight — similar gesture from the cabinet secretary?

Apart from this, an extension in the service of an army chief would prove to be a bad omen for Pakistan. It is an unsuccessful tool for a political party to keep an army chief in good humour. This often produces a Frankenstein, not to speak of the genuine discontent among the next eligible persons in terms of seniority.

SANDIPAN KHANKolkata