Extension ills

All over the world, tenures of people holding top positions are capped at three years. After that period a new head is needed to bring in fresh ideas. This is a must for progress of large organisations like the military. We have with us the case of Gen Ashfaq Kayani who had been given three years extension in his tenure, virtually blocking any change in the military organisation. The new army chief has brought in fresh ideas and a change in policy.
Pakistan has suffered badly due to such extensions. Ayub Khan imposed martial law, perpetuated his regime through his own political ideology and thus sowed the seeds of dismemberment of the country. The resulting chaos was complicated by the dictators who followed him. The lesson is that we should follow the dictum of a three-year service tenure with no provision of extension.
Mahmud Ahmad Akhtar
Rawalpindi