Apropos to an article by renowned former ambassador Mr Zafar Hilaly ‘As the Tsunami Weakens’, the writer sheds light on the dynamics of this country that forcibly involved the military in the past to salvage the country from sidelines of disasters and internal chaos. Though army’s circumstantial involvements in an otherwise some checkered civilian rules, some of which reflected dictatorial traits themselves, did prove beneficial in short terms but their overstaying in power beyond mandates, have always resulted in repulsion and dislike in common public. I couldn’t agree with the esteemed writer more when he wrote that it was not always the people of Pakistan but also the politicians and their leaders who celebrated and distributed sweets on army’s coming to fore to resurrect faltering equations in governing the country while keeping national interests supreme.
The present military hierarchy has invariably shown its resolve to let the democracy cement its footprints in Pakistan remaining within the dictates of constitutional requirements and in true reflection of subservience to civilian rule. There have been some uncomfortable strictures for the institution of the armed forces during on-going transition of the country to firmer democracy but they all were taken in true stride to make the country democratically stronger.
How true has been the write-up when its writer mentions the fact that military does not have the right but it certainly has the might to interfere and will exercise its weight when it comes to issues affecting security and integrity of the country. He supported his argument on two particular scenarios amongst others when he thought that military be constrained to do its duty and exercise its right by saying that, “notwithstanding tiresome soliloquies to the contrary from judges and politicians, especially if the government does not govern and if the military’s fighting abilities or morale is being adversely affected.” He has a solid argument but it is us who do not want to grasp the essence of his powerful write-up for we find ourselves under check for damaging the country.
The current debate on essentially a non-issue is the statements by the army chief and the Chief Justice of Pakistan. The respective statements of COAS and CJP on the need to uphold the supremacy of law recently, were nevertheless exploited to give an imminent impression of a conflict between the two state institutions. The media anchors left no stone unturned to plague our minds on baseless, unfounded theories and self-assumed rifts between the two sensitive institutions of the country.
Thank God, it did not take much time for our normally out of breath anchors and better sense prevailed. Media must refrain from polluting our minds on issues that otherwise affect the security, integrity and national cohesion. They must work towards unity and not creating disharmony. Nonetheless, we sure do need to learn to respect the laws of the land and elected bodies. It is, however, a pity that failures of our politicians despite their repeated sojourns to the thrones of power in Pakistan have always forced the people to ponder whether civilian eras have been good for their wholesome growth of the country or the military ones. After all, it was a civilian who invited the armed forces to rule the country when the latter was in its infancy.
Today, as a nation we find ourselves at cross roads of our destiny. The current dynamics that are to decide the fate of this country do not auger well so far. Elections are around the corner and the nation anxiously yearns for a positive turnaround from the election exercise that could provide them a relief from increasing corruption, bad governance and most of all strengthens internal cohesion and amity between various state organs, all working in tandem for a better tomorrow for our future generations.
ENGINEER JAVED IQBAL
Islamabad
