A necessity
Turkey – modern, up and coming economic power Turkey – has some demons to exorcise. The process is underway, with two generals from the 1980 coup, 94 and 86 years old, standing trial for their actions.
Do we in Pakistan have something in common with our Turkish brethren? Yes and no. Common, a praetorian state, with a history of military coups. Common, the usual internal struggles regarding what it means to be a Muslim state, an Islamic state, a state with a Muslim majority.
Noted military watcher Dr Ayesha Siddiqa gives an interesting trajectory of the two countries: in Turkey, the military has gotten weaker and weaker with every successive coup. In Pakistan, it has gotten stronger and stronger. In Turkey’s case, the last military coup was a failed one. In Pakistan, compare the influence of the deep state in the “democratic” era of the 90’s with the government of today.
Turkey is certainly doing its bit by digging graves where it must. We should, too. Uncomfortable questions need to be asked. The RPP’s corruption must be investigated and those responsible for it must be investigated. But the president did have a point the other day about why it took twenty years for the Asghar Khan petition to be heard and only a couple of months for the RPP scandal to be picked up.
A surfeit of skeletons in the closet. Pick up the Asghar Khan petition even if it makes the institution of the military uncomfortable. Pick up the ZAB case, even if it makes the institution of the judiciary uncomfortable. Pick up the Zafar Ali Shah case even if it makes the present judiciary uncomfortable. Pick up the NAP case, even if it makes the PPP uncomfortable. We can’t move ahead with all these holding us back.
Those who think the era of military interventions – and other grossly undemocratic behaviour – is over and hence there is no need to pull out these carcasses, are wrong. Even today in Turkey, schools and other institutions are named after the fallen from grace dictator currently on trial. A fan following even today. A mindset even today that the dictators are at least better than the cacophony of voices that the politicians are. The undemocratic forces still retain a constituency in Pakistan. Clustered in, but not restricted to, central-upper Punjab and Karachi, this demographic is to enable a next possible coup.
Certain examples need to be made. Lest posterity forget…