in january 2008 general kayani passed a directive which ordered military officers not to maintain contacts with politicians. it was further made public on 13 february 2008 that general kayani ordered the withdrawal of military officers from all of pakistan's government civil departments. it was an action that reversed the policies of his predecessor, president musharraf. it was welcomed by president musharraf's critics, who have long demanded that the military distance itself from politics. the pakistani media reported that the army officers would be withdrawn from 23 wide-ranging civil departments, including the national highway authority, national accountability bureau, ministry of education, and water and power development authority.