Staff Reporter/Monitoring

GUJRANWALA - Several banners have surfaced in Gujranwala on Thursday, requesting the Army Chief not to retire from his post, reported a private TV channel.

The banners appeared couple of days after ‘Move on Pakistan’ put up controversial posters in Islamabad, Rawalpindi and other cities, urging COAS Gen Raheel Sharif to take over.

“Nation’s request ! forget the talk of leaving. Pakistani people and Pakistan needs you,” screamed the posters, referring to Gen Raheel Sharif’s decision to step down at the end of his tenure this year.

Earlier on Wednesday, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Senator Aitzaz Ahsan remarked that members of ‘Move on Pakistan’ should be arrested and charged with treason if the controversial posters were not placed by the government.

The posters, which also appeared in Lahore, Karachi and the garrison city of Rawalpindi as well as several army-run cantonment areas, were placed there by “Move on Pakistan”, a largely-unknown political party founded in 2013.

“Talk of leaving has become old, for God’s sake come now,” stated the posters

Gujranwala Marbel Association president Mian Gulzar Ahmed in a statement said that services of Gen Raheel Sharif for bringing peace in Karachi, Fata and Balochistan warrant that he should stay as the army chief. “The COAS also speaks against corruption which is the biggest issue of the country. We believe that extension should be given to him because only he can address Pakistan’s issues.