THE LAHORE LOG: Sharif's new appointments may finally help democracy take root
Shift: The appointment of Pakistan's Lieutenant-General Raheel Sharif to Army Chief of Staff marks a move by the government to unify the military and the civil leadership
The appointment that everyone in the country had been waiting for has finally been made. Lieutenant-General Raheel Sharif (no relation to the PM) has been appointed Pakistan's new Chief of Army Staff.
This appointment has come at a significant time when the government is battling against internal forces that refuse to acknowledge the State's power and are out to destabilise the country.
Another new appointment, important in its own right, is that of Tassaduq Hussain Jilani as the new Chief Justice of Pakistan.
So as of today, Pakistan has a new Chief Justice, a new Army Chief and a new Taliban Commander.
What does the future hold? While some have welcomed General Raheel Sharif's appointment, critics asked why he was chosen, as he was not the most senior out of the choices that the PM had.
Currently, given the country's status, both the State and military need to be on the same side and that is why Raheel Sharif is PM Sharif's man.
Following Hakimullah's death, the Taliban were quick to name a new commander - Mullah Fazullah - proving that this organisation is not something that can be wiped out.
Fazlullah's appointment was a symbolic gesture that peace talks died with Mehsud and that this new commander, known for his ruthlessness, was not here to compromise.
Therefore in order to understand how to deal effectively with the Taliban, the State will undoubtedly need the help of a military which is willing to assist the civil government, and be sincere in its efforts to eliminate terrorism.
But even more importantly, given his own sour experiences with Army Chiefs, PM Sharif was most keen on picking someone who would not pose a threat to the country's fragile democracy, seniority issues aside.
General Raheel Sharif is a product of Kayani's rewiring of the military mindset, which includes distancing the military from politics and focusing more on internal enemies, instead of external ones like India.
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Right now given that Pakistan is engaged in an internal war with the Taliban, and General Raheel Sharif's area of expertise is combating internal terrorism, it seems the new General is the man for the job.
On top of this, the General has a strong family background in the military and his brother is a heavily decorated martyr of the 1971 war. This means PM Sharif can breathe relatively easy knowing the military is in the hands of someone who knows his job, respects the army far too much to add to its already tarnished image in the eyes of the public, and who will be no threat to him personally or politically.
Then we have the appointment of the new Chief Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jilani. Again an important position since PM Sharif has had bittersweet experiences with past judges.
In 1996 he ousted the then CJ Sajjad Ali Shah only to fight for the reinstatement of CJ Chaudhry Iftikhar, who was ousted by Musharraf in 2007. CJ Chaudhry Iftikhar rose to popularity with the revolutionary lawyers' movement in 2008 and since then he can be credited with the strengthening of the judiciary.
Breathing space: With the new Chief of Staff in place Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif may be able to breathe a sigh of relief in the trust that the military will be no threat to him personally or politically
He was also responsible for the removal of ex-PM Gilani.
Bearing in mind all that CJ Chaudhry had done for the judiciary, and despite their being friends, Prime Minister Sharif was correct in the appointment of the new CJ.
Democracy can only be strengthened if power lies with institutions and not individuals.
Will CJ Tassaduq be as fiery as his predecessor? It seems unlikely but that does not pose a problem. The judiciary has made its stand clear and is focused. Again, this is important for the PM and the civilian government, since it has far too many serious problems to deal with, and needs strong institutions, in the face of those whose sole aim is to do away with the current political system.
It has taken time for democracy to take root in Pakistan and while internal threats are far too serious to ignore, with the smooth transition of power in the military and the judiciary, PM Sharif is probably more at ease in his office.
But with power comes great responsibility, and there is so much work that needs to be done. New appointments have been made, but old problems still exist.
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