Gen Raheel a man of principles all along

SACRAMENTO (California): Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Shareef had a serene childhood as doing matriculation at Garrison School, Lahore he was fond of cycling and at times would do naughty things along with his friends.
He had good behaviour and used to respect his elders and teachers at Government College, Lahore. He played cricket at school and college and eschewed quarrels with friends. A reconciliatory and bright student, he was expert at driving motorcycle and car. He was also good at study.
These details were disclosed by Gen Raheel’s friend and brother-in-law Khalid Usman talking to the Jang informally during a lunch at Hyat Regency Five Star Hotel. The lunch was organised by Pakistani organisations and Council General Hamid Asghar Khan after the Senate in Sacramento, capital of California, unanimously passed a resolution to celebrate Pakistani American Day on March 23.
He said he had been friend of Gen Raheel since childhood while his father held Gen Raheel’s father Maj Sharif in reverence. He said his and Gen Raheel’s fathers were transferred to Signal Unit in Karachi together. Gen Raheel has two sons and one daughter while his mother used to take care of plants like children in their house in Lahore Cantt.
Usman said their houses were in the same lane and Gen Raheel’s mother used to give him piece of advice like her son. He said the whole family of Gen Raheel observes Islamic practices and follows oriental conventions strictly.
He said Gen Raheel was sent on a two-year army course, adding that he is hard working, committed soldier and real patriot. He said Gen Raheel’s uncle Maj Aziz Bhatti Shaheed won Nishan-e-Haider in 1965 war and his elder brother Maj Shabir Shaheed won the same in 1971 war.
He said Gen Raheel is from a military family and is above greed of all kinds. He said Gen Raheel topped a military training course in Germany and then he was sent to Canada Staff College from where he obtained a higher degree in military education. He said Gen Raheel is fond of reading books and his sister Fareeha was married to Gen Raheel in 1982 because of long-standing relations between their families.
Usman’s wife Romana told Jang that Gen Raheel is a respectful and loving person. She said her sister Zeba is head of department in Kinnaird College, Lahore. She said Gen Raheel and Fareeha are loved by their family and children and they hate lie and love truth.
Sources said that Gen Raheel visited US in November 2014 along with his wife but he did not bring with him his security staff to save funds. After important meetings in Washington, he went to Usman’s house and was about to carry his luggage himself upstairs but his ADC did not let him do so. Gen Raheel is confident and filled with Iqbal’s concept of Khuddi.
He told Usman that he could not serve Pakistan more than ridding it from terrorists, extremists, extortionists and target killers of all hues, without making any distinction between parties and groups so that Pakistanis can sleep peacefully. Usman said Pakistanis back Gen Raheel and he surely will meet success.