The brinkmanship stops – the civil-military relations are seemingly back to normal and the business is as usual with the tension, on the face of it, eased off. But it’s still not all milk and honey. The trust-deficit continues to keep both sides suspecting each other – the memo remains the central issue.
True to his reputation of first make a statement and then withdraw it, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani finally ate his own words that Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Director General (DG) Lt General Ahmad Shuja Pasha had violated the constitution and their replies submitted with the Supreme Court in the memo case were illegal. It vindicated the army’s position.
The army had wanted the prime minister to clarify his statement, which, it considered, had “very serious ramifications with potentially grievous consequences for the country”. He clarified his position. Surely, it happened after hectic behind-the-scenes efforts by the intermediaries to break the ice and Tuesday’s meeting between the prime minister, the COAS and the ISI DG, the first time all three came face-to-face ever since the memo issue surfaced, was significant.
Dispelling the impression that the COAS and the ISI DG’s replies in the memo case were unconstitutional, he said he had given this statement in “certain circumstances”. Obviously, it was with a purpose to checkmate the generals but without working out a strategy to handle the situation the statement would create.
“Now the situation is clear and there is no ambiguity,” Gilani said, adding that there should be harmony in the view points of all state institutions, as the country could not afford confrontation. “The country cannot work in an atmosphere of confrontation among the institutions. Therefore, for the national interest, we have to be on the same page,” the prime minister said, clarifying that his statement did not pertain to the “two gentlemen” as he had already taken action against a government functionary – the defence secretary.
There is no doubt that the state institutions have to be on the same page. But the conflict over the memo issue continues to dog the civil-military relations – the government wants this controversy brushed under the carpet and the army does not budge from its position. The ISI DG’s stance on the memo issue remains unchanged.
Before meeting the prime minister, Lt General Pasha had submitted his statement with the Parliamentary Committee on National Security and it was same as the one he had submitted to the Supreme Court. Obviously, he cannot change his position in the middle of the enquiry. But the enquiry may prolong, as it appears to be stretching beyond the stipulated four-week time with the judicial commission seeking another four weeks from the Supreme Court.
This means, if it gets more time, the commission will finalise its report by the end of February and present it to the Supreme Court, which will examine the findings and then make a judgement. Meanwhile, the Senate elections would take place – the government’s fear that all this was part of a scheme to oust it before March, however, stands allayed.
The civil-military relations hinge on the memo issue. As Mansoor Ijaz, through a letter, has categorically informed the judicial commission that he will not come to Pakistan if anyone associated with the government is given the responsibility of his security, the probe will understandably remain incomplete without his deposition.
While the Supreme Court has clearly mandated the judicial commission to travel anywhere in the world to collect the evidence, it remains to be seen what decision the commission takes and the question, in case it is decided to record Mansoor Ijaz’s statement in a country of his choice, is: will it be acceptable to all concerned?
The prime minister has said all the institutions have to be on the same page as confrontation between them would not augur well for the country. He is right. But it’s a little too late to realise this. To be or not to be on the same page will, however, be determined by what the judicial commission finds in its probe. Nonetheless, he has defused the situation for the time being. If it’s back to normal, the element of “national interest”, in case of civil and military leaderships agreeing to leave the memo issue behind and move forward, can also not be ignored.
