To salute or not to salute

A news picture shows General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani meeting the President Zardari at Aiwan e Sadr along with the PM Syed Yousuf Raza Gillani. General Kayani in an obvious show of gesture not to be in uniform is shown wearing civvies. Civvies yes, but more of an apology of the civvies than some proper formal dress required by the occasion.

As an old soldier and a stickler for details I cannot approve of the Chief of the Army Staff presenting himself before his Commander-in-Chief (Supreme Commander of all the armed forces of Pakistan) in so casual an attire - open collar, thick blue striped shirt, blue (or black) blazer, and blue jeans like trousers - providing him with an inbuilt excuse of not raising his arm in salute to the President, reminiscent of what Mirza Aslam Beg had done to the BB in the GHQ by receiving her casually without wearing his cap to avoid saluting her in public.

Such laxities if not nipped in the bud are likely to breed haughtiness among the commanders giving them some wrong airs which could result in an undisciplined action on their part at some stage.

Truly

Col. Riaz Jafri (Retd)

30, Westridsge-1

Rawalpindi 46000

Tel: (051) 546 3344