Widening gap between civil-military thinking

• Some questionable aspects of Bajwa doctrine

We are assured by the ISPR that the Bajwa doctrine will bring a durable peace in the country. One would readily agree that the Operation Zarb-e-Azb was a major step towards making Pakistan secure. The Operation Raddul Fasad is also helping to eradicate terrorist sleeper cells. Peace will however remain fragile till a comprehensive and multifaceted campaign is launched to eradicate the extremist thinking in society which spreads hatred and xenophobia and creates conducive environment for the proliferation of terrorist tendencies besides providing recruits to the terrorist networks. Bajwa doctrine which aims at mainstreaming terrorist orgnisations provides space to religious fanatics to spread their poisonous propaganda against minorities, women and new ideas.

After ground was prepared through a parliamentary coup in Balochistan Assembly for the PML-N’s defeat in the Senate polls, doubts are being expressed about the fairness of the forthcoming general elections. Is engineering large scale defections in the PML-N the next item on the agenda? Will the mainstreamed militants be encouraged to join hands against the parties not liked by the establishment? A rehearsal has already taken place during the 2018 bypolls with networks like MML and Labbaik contesting the elections. It is being maintained that the doctrine requires a new regime at the center willing to perform the twin tasks of accountability and mainstreaming. Will the PTI, which is eager to carry out the plan, be helped to come to power?

The economy is no doubt in doldrums. Its improvement however needs political stability which can come only after elections widely seen to be fair and free. Any amateurish dabbling in the economy or recourse to quick fixes can cause harm. Anybody desiring to reverse constitutional amendments has to do so through the course prescribed in the constitution. A recourse to the Supreme Court as a short cut could be disastrous. Democratic process therefore needs to be strengthened. The best way for the country is for the government to make policies taking input from all stakeholders including the army instead of the army coming out with its own panaceas for the country’s ills.