There was a recent article by Ikram Sehgal published in which it seems as if the writer is calling for martial law when he says, “While nobody wants a military takeover, because that would be suicidal, should intervention be ruled out if the country’s very existence is in danger?’’ Such statements should not be welcomed as we have experienced martial law four times in Pakistan and the results were disastrous.
The intervention of armed forces in politics was not a good thing and it is quite clear that the country suffered a lot during military rules. Just one example of that is that sectarian and ethnic organisations were created to divide the political forces during military regimes, the fallout of which is making our country burn these days. Invitations for martial law classify as mutinous acts as the constitution of Pakistan declares it to be a federal democratic republic. It is said that even the worst democracy is better than a dictatorship.
The political parties and other social activists demanding for the PM’s resignation seem to be overlooking the fact that the trial is not yet over. Similarly, the writer’s call for martial law seems to have been not been thought through. The two houses of parliament, Senate and National Assembly, passed separate resolutions in support of Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, reposing confidence in him following his conviction. The constitution has given much space to the PM and until he uses all his rights and exhausts all avenues of appeal, he can’t be considered disqualified. I admit performance of the PPP government was not ideal, but it has set new standards of politics in a feudal society.
Millions of poor have been awarded by employee’s stock scheme. For the first time in the history of Pakistan, poor workers became partners in the profits of organisations. The bureaucracy became answerable to the people and the power centre shifted from the traditional ones to the masses. As people have gotten a realisation of their rights, democracy has become a platform where they can share power. Keeping up with democracy is the way to go. The army is an institution which is supposed to work under the elected government, not to govern the country.
SAMINA AMIR MALIK
Islamabad
