Uniform
& Retired Officers
By Col. Riaz Jafri (Retd)
Rawalpindi, Pakistan
A news appeared in ‘The News’ on 7
April 2007 that Lt. Gen. Hamid Gul (Retd) is expected
to lead a group of retired army officers wearing
uniform but without any badges of ranks on their
shoulders who will gather in front of the Supreme
Court building in token of their support for the
CJP Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.
Although Gen. Hamid Gul is reported to have denied
knowledge of such a plan, he has nevertheless
supported it saying that it would be a big show.
When asked if the retired officers could wear
the uniform on such an occasion, the general went
on to say that he had himself worn his commando
jacket and the PMA cap on the last hearing of
the SJC as he and his daughter were manhandled
by police on a previous occasion.
Well, as an old and senior soldier to Hamid Gul,
I am surprised that the general does not know
the occasions on which the retired army officers
can wear the uniform. For his information “Uniform
may be worn on special occasions such as Regimental
Re-union, Rally, Durbar or other Ceremonials (Authority:
Army Regulations (Rules) 658 and Army Dress Regulations.”
I do sincerely hope that he knows the exact connotation
of the word ‘Rally’ used above in
the military nuance and not confuse it with a
demonstration. Also, what is this nonsense of
army officers wearing the uniform without their
badges of ranks or mixing it partly with the civilian
clothes? Sorry, an officer doing so is not worth
his salt. Either wear the uniform well and proper
or not at all.
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