you get legitimacy by winning in a fair elections voted by ppl.
Maybe in a handful of countries, but it is grossly erroneous to extrapolate one rule for every single country in the world, especially when each land and peoples have their own history, societal issues and values.
In Pakistan, society generally does not trust its politicians, regardless of the elections they win. In some cases, it is an issue of provinces disliking other provinces. In other cases, it is an issue of tribe, ethnicity or city. For many of us on this forum, it is the patently obvious fact that a huge chunk of the Pakistani political class is corrupt, and will never earn genuine legitimacy in our eyes.
If you're a political party in Pakistan, and you want genuine legitimacy, then you would need to do something that is on the selfless, humble and visionary side of the equation.
Yeah but don't forget terms will not be dictated by Political lot but by Chief himself, and he is a bigger man than taking a ceremonial post and no powers ---- you think he will involve himself into a thankless job again?? He is a highly regarded person and he will settle down somewhere quiet with his honor and pride intact
We'll have to see. What if it is a matter of someone asking him to continue helping in the stabilization of the Pakistani political system?
It was already a big thing to see the PPP to PML handover, well a third election cycle is absolutely unprecedented in the country, and with the general conditions prevailing - i.e. internal conflict, economic uncertainty, possible foreign relations issues arising in Kashmir and Afghanistan, etc - what if many politicians, judges, media, Pakistani people, and armed forces collectively made a case for Raheel Sharif as president?
He is not a proactive agent, sure, but does that also mean he won't assume a position out of duty - and that too with legitimate means and public backing?