There’re no perceptual biases nor is any attempt being made to drive a wedge between the army and the people of Pakistan. If the military high command thinks that the media and the mainstream opposition leadership are doing so, the fault lies with a peculiar mindset which must change now.
Mian Nawaz Sharif is as hard-hitting in his criticism of the army and its intelligence apparatus as he is in that of the PPP leadership. But before assessing the reasons for his recent outbursts, it is essential to revisit the events that occurred since the killing of Osama Bin Laden on May 2. It wasn’t just the security lapses witnessed in Abbottabad and at the Mehran base but also the extrajudicial killings in Quetta and Karachi by the paramilitary forces which raised calls for the accountability of those who consider themselves above the law.
The ISPR press release issued after the 139th Corps Commanders’ Conference indicated that the military top brass noted with regret that despite briefing the joint session of the Parliament and deferring the ultimate findings to the commission appointed by the government, some quarters, because of their perceptual biases, were trying to deliberately run down the armed forces and army in particular. By the way, which commission were they referring to? The one that became controversial soon after its formation.
If those at the helm of our security establishment think they can put up with the worldwide humiliation coming in the wake of two major fiascos, let it be so. But the nation feels insulted. It is justified to ask how the US Navy SEALs launched an attack in a garrison town without the knowledge of our armed forces and the intelligence agencies. And how did Osama Bin Laden manage to live in the close vicinity of Pakistan’s West Point for so long? Can the people of Pakistan be denied the right to know how could half a dozen militants sneak into a high security zone and cause massive damage to one of the largest naval facilities?
Mian Nawaz has committed no sin by giving impetus to the public demand for bringing those found guilty of these security lapses to justice. Being victim of quasi-military and military coups against his governments in 1993 and 1997, his grudge against the military establishment is but natural. Yet he cannot be blamed for undermining the army as an institution. What wedges he is trying to drive between the armed forces, other organs of the state, and the people by demanding that truth be made public. Be it the Abbottabad and PNS Mehran incidents or extrajudicial killings at Kharotabad and Karachi by the FC and Sindh Rangers.
If the PML(N) Chief closed ranks with the journalist community staging a dharna in protest against inordinate delay in the investigation of Saleem Shahzad’s gruesome murder, he just wanted to ensure that the issue didn’t get hushed up like many such previous incidents. And by accusing the PPP leadership of having turned the parliament into a rubberstamp, he has just stated the obvious. Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani is facing scathing criticism for bringing the current democratic dispensation into disrepute by showing utter disregard to the unanimous resolution adopted by the joint sitting of the parliament seeking the formation of an independent commission to probe the Abbottabad incident.
The problem with the military establishment and the ruling civilian leadership is that they get offended by bitter questioning about the issues concerning national security. There’s a fear that continues to haunt their thoughts: Mian Nawaz leading from the front and seeking action against the rogue elements in the armed forces and intelligence agencies will further expose the inadequacies in the system. The fact that the government appointed two Supreme Court judges to head different judicial commissions without taking into confidence the Chief Justice of Pakistan (which according to the legal experts is a must under the constitution) shows its lack of seriousness in investigating the sensitive matters.
As for the army high command’s assertion that in order to “confront the present challenges, it is critical to stand united as a nation” this cannot be disputed at all. But the perception that raising questions about the army’s meddling in political affairs and its dominance in foreign policy matters amounts to undermining the institution is grossly misplaced. The fact remains that it is the lack of accountability that has rendered our defence forces vulnerable and adversely affected their ability to safeguard our sovereignty.
Mian Nawaz was right in that if the army wanted not to be criticised, it would have to remove the causes of criticism.
The writer is Executive Editor, Pakistan Today