IT was 1974 and the gentleman cadet (No.13094), Naeem Khalid Lodhi, was given the prestigious appointment of Company Senior UnderOfficer (CSUO), Khalid Company in the Pakistan Military Academy, Kakul.
He was one of the eight cadets who got this coveted appointment out of 300 cadets in the 50th PMA long course.
Leadership is taught as one of the characterbuilding subjects in the PMA. Different traits of leadership carry different weights. Moral courage -in which gentleman cadet Lodhi excelled has a maximum of 10.
It was under his honest, dynamic leadership and demonstrated performance as CSUO that Khalid Company was adjudged as the champions in 1974. The most difficult task in the world is to motivate a soldier to lay his life for the defence of his country. One has to set an example and lead the men from the front to do so and Naeem started doing so at the tender age of 21 when most others are in their learning years in colleges and universities.
As time passed by, he was entrusted with greater responsibilities. He was a faculty member in the Military College of Engineering, Risalpur; a directing staff in the Command and Staff College, Quetta, and then later in the National Defence University, Islamabad.
Hundreds of military, civil and foreign officers, including the current navy chief, benefited from his knowledge and graduated from these prestigious seats of learning.
He commanded thousands of men and officers from the days he was a second lieutenant till he rose to be a lieutenantgeneral a period of over 36 years. He introduced and demonstrated practically new concepts for the defence of the motherland.
No one will have any hesitation in saying that LtGen Lodhi is a gentleman and a capable and highly responsible officer. It is just unfortunate of him of being accused of misconduct. A person of his caliber, intellect, integrity and patriotism certainly knows the difference between conduct and misconduct.
Losing officers of his character and caliber can be highly demoralising for straight and upright officers in the services.
Based upon my 27 years of professional association with him, I can confidently say that he always acts according to his conscience, not dictation, and in the best interest of the country.
LT-COL (Rtd) AFZAL SIPRAAFaisalabad