By Aamir Latif

KARACHI, Pakistan

With Pakistan’s popular army chief Gen. Raheel Sharif retiring next week, the capital Islamabad has become the playing field for a guessing game over who Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will pick to head the army of the South Asian nuclear power.

Credited by many for improving law and order in the country by launching a relentless military operation against militants in the isolated northwestern tribal belt, Gen. Sharif has brushed aside speculation over an extension of his tenure by beginning the traditional farewell visits to army units.

Prime Minister Sharif has been left with the decision for a record fifth time during his three turbulent stints as prime minister, the first two of which were interrupted, most recently in 1999 by the man he himself had chosen to lead the army and who went on to rule the country for nine years – Gen. Pervez Musharraf.

Military and civilian officials, including a senior cabinet minister, told Anadolu Agency the prime minister has completed consultations with his closest advisors and Gen. Sharif himself and are expected to make it public within the coming days.

According to convention, the prime minister picks the army chief and the chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee from a list of the four most senior generals sent by the defense secretary.

The list received by Sharif includes: Lt. Gen. Zubair Mehmood Hayat, currently the Chief of General Staff at the army headquarters; Lt. Gen. Ishfaq Nadeem, Corps Commander Multan; Lt. Gen. Javed Iqbal Ramday, Corps Commander Bahawalpur; and Lt Gen. Qamar Bajwa, Inspector General Training and Evaluation.

While Hayat is considered the most senior, a cabinet minister, who spoke on condition of not being named, said the most likely candidate was Nadeem, who many consider the architect of the ongoing military onslaught against Taliban fighters in the tribal belt.

“Nothing is confirmed yet as the prime minister has not shown his card but yes, the word in political circles and from cabinet members is that Gen. Ishfaq [Nadeem] will be the next commander,” the minister said, adding that Gen. Sharif also favors Nadeem.

Many believe however that the other generals can still be considered "dark horses" for the role.

“Until it's announced, it is anybody’s guess. Because no one knows whether the new army chief will be picked on the basis of personal consideration or professional considerations,” said retired Lt. Gen. Talat Masood, an Islamabad-based defense analyst.

“In my opinion, all four [senior generals] are fit for the post of army chief. If the prime minister goes by professional competence and battlefield experience, then I think Gen. Ishfaq [Nadeem] should be the new army chief,” he said.

“But it will be a matter of instinct rather than a matter of professionalism. Sharif will see who he feels comfortable with,” he added.