The story is told like a fable. General Montgomery, Britain’s World War II hero, once asked the Prime Minister for a house and farmland so he could live out his last days in peace. The Prime Minister listened politely, thanked him for his service, and said no.
The reason was simple: I cannot spend taxpayers’ money on personal favors. You are already given a pension. That is your right, nothing more.
Montgomery bowed his head, accepted the refusal, and went home to his modest rented house. That was that.
Now imagine this in Pakistan.
Palaces, Not Pensions
Here, generals don’t fade into pensioned obscurity. They retire into DHA palaces, multiple plots, agricultural land, and cushy jobs.
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Pervez Musharraf lived between Dubai and his Chak Shahzad farmhouse, secured and serviced even after seizing power illegally.
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Qamar Javed Bajwa quietly expanded his family’s landholdings during his tenure—investigative reports put it in billions.
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Raheel Sharif didn’t retire into a quiet life either. He walked into a prestigious, well-paid job heading the Saudi-led military alliance.
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Even lesser-known corps commanders retire into boards, banks, and chairmanships of housing societies.
In Pakistan, retirement is a reward ceremony. In Britain, retirement was simply the end of service.
Civilian Leaders Are No Different
And yes, politicians copy the same script. Presidents keep their mansions. Prime ministers cling to convoys. Zardari’s Clifton house is a fortress. Nawaz Sharif’s Jati Umra estate runs like a kingdom. The perks aren’t symbolic—they’re systemic.
Where the British Prime Minister said: I am guardian of the people’s rights, Pakistani leaders behave as if they are guardians of their own estates.
The Word We Don’t Know: No
Montgomery’s story is about restraint. The Prime Minister had the power to please a hero, but refused because principle mattered more than sentiment.
Here, nobody ever says no. Not to a general, not to a politician. Plots are handed out, security convoys extended, foreign postings created. To refuse is unthinkable.
When was the last time you saw a Pakistani general or prime minister accept a denial with dignity?
The Ethos We Lost
Montgomery lived in a rented house. Pakistani generals retire into palaces. That is not just a comparison—it’s a mirror held up to our ethos.
Britain built institutions that outlived individuals. Pakistan built individuals who devoured institutions.
And that is why Montgomery’s story reads like a parable, while ours read like corruption reports.
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