Politicians of the country welcomed appointment of new Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant-General Raheel Sharif, hoping he would do a good job in eliminating terrorism. Opposition Leader Khursheed Shah said that the new army chief would face many problems. "He needs to overcome challenges as a Muslim commander not as an ordinary one," he added.
Senate Defence Committee Chairman Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed said that the new army chief should have to make a comprehensive policy against terrorism.
Senator Awami National Party (ANP) Haji Adeel commented that Pakistan would face more problems in the coming times. He said that the terrorism's issue would be the priority for Raheel Sharif.
Meanwhile, in a private television channel programme, former Air vice Marshal Shehzad Chaudhry opined the new COAS may have a different approach towards democracy.
The new chief will have to take vital decisions along with the government before April. The attitude of the new chief will be determined by the circumstances, he held. General Kayani had a thinking mind while the new chief could have a different bent of mind, he said.
Another Analyst Zuha Saeed opined the delay in the appointment of the new chief could be due not finding a 'man of choice'.
It seems seniority will not be given any consideration, he predicted. Brigadier Asad Muneer (Retd) said the period of Kayani as COAS was very important as he did not interfere in the political issue.