This is apropos a Business Recorder editorial "A landmark case" carried by the newspaper yesterday. The newspaper has concluded its argument by saying that "The situation presents a sardonic comment on the way of governance in the country of 208 million people: how unfortunate it is that a government that has failed to honour its pledge of creating 10 million new jobs jeopardized the job of an army chief - perhaps the most secure government post. The upside of this episode, however, clearly indicates country's struggle towards attaining high levels of democracy."

Here, I would to add the following: There are however a few questions that linger. General Bajwa may have earned a six-month reprieve from the SC, but to what extent he would be an effective COAS or be reduced to a virtual lame duck is a troubling concern. In the long run, it is likely that a new COAS will be in place before this government's tenure expires. It is of course for General Bajwa himself to weigh his options now, but perhaps the wisest course may well be to call it a day, although it was not he but the government itself that caused embarrassment to the institution that he has been heading quite efficiently.