The next week would not be just another week in our history. It kicks off with elections which have been promised to bring the light of ‘real democracy’ to this country, alas once again from the shadows of the military khakis.
With the exception of the surrender of the armed forces of Pakistan in 1971, which severely lowered the image of the armed forces in its own eyes as well as humiliation in general public, never before had the armed forces’ support in the public been at such low levels. The time had eventually come for the military to retire to its role of defending the country instead of engaging in politics and undermining both politics and an effective defence capability.
General Ashfaq Kayani, the new Chief of Armed Forces has undertaken a commitment to reaffirm the loyalty of the brave soldiers this country is known for, to the task at hand at a moment where we find ourselves in the greatest internal disturbances coupled with complications with our sworn enemies and ‘allies’ alike. Clever to gauge the public opinion as well as understanding the importance of ‘people’s support’ for the armed forces, he has recalled all serving officers in civilian departments in order to dispel the negative perception of the armed forces amongst people of this country as well as negate foreign concerns that the armed forces do not have either the desire or ability to contain the insurgency in the tribal belt of this country in the ‘war against Al-Qaeda’. It is thought that his efforts would result in greater command and control over the operations launched against militancy in these areas as well as inspire an operational maneuverability if and when required. This process was necessary to de-politicize the most disciplined institution of Pakistan which was nevertheless being perceived as ‘ill-disciplined’ due to the blunders of a few rogue generals through collaboration with a highly receptive bureaucracy.
However, there are no promises for the future that will bind prospective generals to follow the dicta of General Kayani and restrain their inhibitions towards a military solution of a coup and overthrow of civilian regimes. Only time would tell whether dictatorship has been buried forever or would just lay dormant pending an opportunity to reoccupy the corridors of power and divert from its constitutional role of defending against threats, which are more severe and immediate than at any previous occasion in the history of modern Pakistan.
With regards to the election itself, though many reservations have been shown by foreign analysts and local politicians alike, some of whom even having distanced themselves from the process as being a sham, it is nevertheless a step in the right direction. PML(N)’s demand for the restoration of judges places it at the top of the list of political parties bent upon changing the status quo and revolutionizing the independence of the judiciary which can only be done if the pre-November 3 judiciary is restored. Lawyers all over the country have ensured that the significance of the actions which was a result of an illegal act (of ‘martial law’ of November 3) is not lost in the midst of the elections.
Although optimistic even to this point in time when many would have surrendered to economic constraints, the lawyers continue to overshadow all civil libertarian groups in a quest to achieve the difficult yet attainable task of burying the ‘doctrine of necessity’, which justifies and legalizes constitutional deviations, once and for all. At the same time, they are wary that any concession on the issue would mean that in future, there would be a huge disadvantage for judges who would avoid stating the obvious-the constitution cannot be deviated from in such arbitrary manner.
Let us hope that politicians learn from their past mistake and are able and willing to move across their differences and form national solidarity in a turbulent situation and not abuse the delegated authority of the people. Only in democracy lies Pakistan’s national interest and the road towards progress and prosperity as well as a solution towards the tribal insurgency. Military is incapable of taking both politics and defence hand in hand. British Field Marshall Lord Montgomery famously said in 1956: “War is a very rough game, but I think politics is worse.”
Any justification for deviations to this basic norm deserves criticism and denunciation. A couple of examples from the West are illustrious of the weakness of the argument to use constitutional deviation to support national interest as it is often dubbed.
Although the British desperately needed a change of tactics and someone at the helm of affairs at the height of World War II to fight the war graciously and reach a just end, it was only through the civilian corridors of power that an ex service man, Winston Churchill broke the normal ranks of political acumen and led the nation to a success in WWII as a civilian Prime Minister. As opposed to Pakistan where the official version states that November 3 actions were taken to suppress terrorism, the British army officers did not, even for a moment, about a possible coup which would allow it to control greater leverage and control of the country in a war which threatened the great colonialist power. Similarly, the U.S., although responding harshly to 9/11, which killed thousands in WTO, did not consider a military takeover as an option to safeguard ‘its national interest. For Pakistan to say so sounds as much absurd to ourselves as to others. A new start must be taken on February 18, 2007 and bitter rivalries over the past forgotten, lest we be placed amongst nations with ideological grounds but unable to guide the country towards realization of Quaid’s vision of a strong Pakistan where civilian rule is the order of the day. An autocrat returns us to the miserable days of colonialism. It was the isolationist approach of the British and Congress of India which led feelings of mistrust grow in the days preceding partition, We must strive to eliminate such feelings, which serve nobody but enemies of the state bent upon destruction of nationhood and federation in the country and leads towards provincial politics, nationalism and breakdown of the country.
With the exception of the surrender of the armed forces of Pakistan in 1971, which severely lowered the image of the armed forces in its own eyes as well as humiliation in general public, never before had the armed forces’ support in the public been at such low levels. The time had eventually come for the military to retire to its role of defending the country instead of engaging in politics and undermining both politics and an effective defence capability.
General Ashfaq Kayani, the new Chief of Armed Forces has undertaken a commitment to reaffirm the loyalty of the brave soldiers this country is known for, to the task at hand at a moment where we find ourselves in the greatest internal disturbances coupled with complications with our sworn enemies and ‘allies’ alike. Clever to gauge the public opinion as well as understanding the importance of ‘people’s support’ for the armed forces, he has recalled all serving officers in civilian departments in order to dispel the negative perception of the armed forces amongst people of this country as well as negate foreign concerns that the armed forces do not have either the desire or ability to contain the insurgency in the tribal belt of this country in the ‘war against Al-Qaeda’. It is thought that his efforts would result in greater command and control over the operations launched against militancy in these areas as well as inspire an operational maneuverability if and when required. This process was necessary to de-politicize the most disciplined institution of Pakistan which was nevertheless being perceived as ‘ill-disciplined’ due to the blunders of a few rogue generals through collaboration with a highly receptive bureaucracy.
However, there are no promises for the future that will bind prospective generals to follow the dicta of General Kayani and restrain their inhibitions towards a military solution of a coup and overthrow of civilian regimes. Only time would tell whether dictatorship has been buried forever or would just lay dormant pending an opportunity to reoccupy the corridors of power and divert from its constitutional role of defending against threats, which are more severe and immediate than at any previous occasion in the history of modern Pakistan.
With regards to the election itself, though many reservations have been shown by foreign analysts and local politicians alike, some of whom even having distanced themselves from the process as being a sham, it is nevertheless a step in the right direction. PML(N)’s demand for the restoration of judges places it at the top of the list of political parties bent upon changing the status quo and revolutionizing the independence of the judiciary which can only be done if the pre-November 3 judiciary is restored. Lawyers all over the country have ensured that the significance of the actions which was a result of an illegal act (of ‘martial law’ of November 3) is not lost in the midst of the elections.
Although optimistic even to this point in time when many would have surrendered to economic constraints, the lawyers continue to overshadow all civil libertarian groups in a quest to achieve the difficult yet attainable task of burying the ‘doctrine of necessity’, which justifies and legalizes constitutional deviations, once and for all. At the same time, they are wary that any concession on the issue would mean that in future, there would be a huge disadvantage for judges who would avoid stating the obvious-the constitution cannot be deviated from in such arbitrary manner.
Let us hope that politicians learn from their past mistake and are able and willing to move across their differences and form national solidarity in a turbulent situation and not abuse the delegated authority of the people. Only in democracy lies Pakistan’s national interest and the road towards progress and prosperity as well as a solution towards the tribal insurgency. Military is incapable of taking both politics and defence hand in hand. British Field Marshall Lord Montgomery famously said in 1956: “War is a very rough game, but I think politics is worse.”
Any justification for deviations to this basic norm deserves criticism and denunciation. A couple of examples from the West are illustrious of the weakness of the argument to use constitutional deviation to support national interest as it is often dubbed.
Although the British desperately needed a change of tactics and someone at the helm of affairs at the height of World War II to fight the war graciously and reach a just end, it was only through the civilian corridors of power that an ex service man, Winston Churchill broke the normal ranks of political acumen and led the nation to a success in WWII as a civilian Prime Minister. As opposed to Pakistan where the official version states that November 3 actions were taken to suppress terrorism, the British army officers did not, even for a moment, about a possible coup which would allow it to control greater leverage and control of the country in a war which threatened the great colonialist power. Similarly, the U.S., although responding harshly to 9/11, which killed thousands in WTO, did not consider a military takeover as an option to safeguard ‘its national interest. For Pakistan to say so sounds as much absurd to ourselves as to others. A new start must be taken on February 18, 2007 and bitter rivalries over the past forgotten, lest we be placed amongst nations with ideological grounds but unable to guide the country towards realization of Quaid’s vision of a strong Pakistan where civilian rule is the order of the day. An autocrat returns us to the miserable days of colonialism. It was the isolationist approach of the British and Congress of India which led feelings of mistrust grow in the days preceding partition, We must strive to eliminate such feelings, which serve nobody but enemies of the state bent upon destruction of nationhood and federation in the country and leads towards provincial politics, nationalism and breakdown of the country.
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