There’re no perceptual biases nor is any attempt being made to drive a wedge between the army and the people of Pakistan. If the military high command thinks that the media and the mainstream opposition leadership are doing so, the fault lies with a peculiar mindset which must change now.
Mian Nawaz Sharif is as hard-hitting in his criticism of the army and its intelligence apparatus as he is in that of the PPP leadership. But before assessing the reasons for his recent outbursts, it is essential to revisit the events that occurred since the killing of Osama Bin Laden on May 2. It wasn’t just the security lapses witnessed in Abbottabad and at the Mehran base but also the extrajudicial killings in Quetta and Karachi by the paramilitary forces which raised calls for the accountability of those who consider themselves above the law.
The ISPR press release issued after the 139th Corps Commanders’ Conference indicated that the military top brass noted with regret that despite briefing the joint session of the Parliament and deferring the ultimate findings to the commission appointed by the government, some quarters, because of their perceptual biases, were trying to deliberately run down the armed forces and army in particular. By the way, which commission were they referring to? The one that became controversial soon after its formation.
If those at the helm of our security establishment think they can put up with the worldwide humiliation coming in the wake of two major fiascos, let it be so. But the nation feels insulted. It is justified to ask how the US Navy SEALs launched an attack in a garrison town without the knowledge of our armed forces and the intelligence agencies. And how did Osama Bin Laden manage to live in the close vicinity of Pakistan’s West Point for so long? Can the people of Pakistan be denied the right to know how could half a dozen militants sneak into a high security zone and cause massive damage to one of the largest naval facilities?
Mian Nawaz has committed no sin by giving impetus to the public demand for bringing those found guilty of these security lapses to justice. Being victim of quasi-military and military coups against his governments in 1993 and 1997, his grudge against the military establishment is but natural. Yet he cannot be blamed for undermining the army as an institution. What wedges he is trying to drive between the armed forces, other organs of the state, and the people by demanding that truth be made public. Be it the Abbottabad and PNS Mehran incidents or extrajudicial killings at Kharotabad and Karachi by the FC and Sindh Rangers.
If the PML(N) Chief closed ranks with the journalist community staging a dharna in protest against inordinate delay in the investigation of Saleem Shahzad’s gruesome murder, he just wanted to ensure that the issue didn’t get hushed up like many such previous incidents. And by accusing the PPP leadership of having turned the parliament into a rubberstamp, he has just stated the obvious. Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani is facing scathing criticism for bringing the current democratic dispensation into disrepute by showing utter disregard to the unanimous resolution adopted by the joint sitting of the parliament seeking the formation of an independent commission to probe the Abbottabad incident.
The problem with the military establishment and the ruling civilian leadership is that they get offended by bitter questioning about the issues concerning national security. There’s a fear that continues to haunt their thoughts: Mian Nawaz leading from the front and seeking action against the rogue elements in the armed forces and intelligence agencies will further expose the inadequacies in the system. The fact that the government appointed two Supreme Court judges to head different judicial commissions without taking into confidence the Chief Justice of Pakistan (which according to the legal experts is a must under the constitution) shows its lack of seriousness in investigating the sensitive matters.
As for the army high command’s assertion that in order to “confront the present challenges, it is critical to stand united as a nation” this cannot be disputed at all. But the perception that raising questions about the army’s meddling in political affairs and its dominance in foreign policy matters amounts to undermining the institution is grossly misplaced. The fact remains that it is the lack of accountability that has rendered our defence forces vulnerable and adversely affected their ability to safeguard our sovereignty.
Mian Nawaz was right in that if the army wanted not to be criticised, it would have to remove the causes of criticism.
The writer is Executive Editor, Pakistan Today
The time has come to harness the army so that it becomes a true servant of the state and not master. In short history of Pakistan, the army has only proven to be a conqueror of its own people and not the defender of Pakistan. The Dhaka debacle and the US operation Geronimo in Abbottabad speak volume of our army’s caliber.
I want to have an army that George Washington, first president of the United States, talked about, “An army of asses led by a lion is better than an army of lions led by an ass.”
Army generals need to be reminded repeatedly that their pay, perks and lavish life style is paid by the people through their taxes. Their job is to defend the country not rule over it.
Mian sahib realized after forty months to 'state the obvious' when the worst ever corrupt, incompetent government of PPP-Zardari had done its irreparable damage to Pakistan and its 16.5 poor and safaidposhs..He watched country sinking in all complacence to only assure his family business empires and Raiwaind ,sugar,textile,steal mills, poultry farms roll into one of the biggest in the world.MNS does not see yet that there is no proper Foreign minister for the last many months,the President, the supreme commander is the worst ever corrupt President, and so his Prime minister. The Defense minister is a zombie .What better could nation and media expect from this government in Abotabad,Mehran Naval base,Raymaond Davis,Flood management,electricity,economy,Karachi target killings of thousands, trillion dollars live speeches of Altaf Hussein from London inciting ‘jawans and generals’ to set for mutiny and lodge MQM in Center as absolute power to complete the task Musharraf started for them,. ,trillion dollars bathakhori in Karachi of PPPZ,MQM,ANP,drones killing in thousands,country enslaved to IMF,drones,UK,USA etcSaleemShahzad etcetc when every thing has been put to rudderless, most corrupt, leadership of the worst ever munafaks,qatils,mufadprasts,coalition cartel of PPP-Z,MQM,MMAA,MLQ and Mian sahib did not play his part well excepting when his ‘dum’ came under the feet as during Governor raj and he set out on Long March and now when he has missed his boat and also the nation boat rock in hurricanes.Even the media is scared to death to sometime speak the truth or pursue the truth or see the obvious truth..When Zulfikar Mirza exposed publicly the murderers of Karachi target killings in thousands and of Wali Khan ,it dare not pursue the murderers as indicated by Zulfikatr Mirza before he was shown door by his mentor Zardari to make him a scapegoat to save his throne for appeasing MQM.The media is either owned by MQM,its party workers dominate media world,even scripts and questions format come from Nine zero,the TV anchors,newscasters 90% are MQM foot soldiers projecting it as god mother,messiahs.The so called free media is also scared to death to speak one true word against the urban political terrorists of Karachi.Unfortunately,we have become nation of 'munafaks,mufadprsts'and youth of 'Chulbul Pandeas,and Shelias and Mdancing munis 'ruining the ideological base of our great country.Courtesy-Karachi based TV channels promoting hedonism to serve alien agenda of India,West,America,Neocons .We see its results every hour,every day,every minute and we keep our eyes blind when it suits our political vested interests no matter 16,5 crore poor,safaid posh are pounded to pieces by rampant loot,plunders,butchering 'mehangi',tariffs our business empires misy increase by trillions of dollars.
I find the above comments too honest,forthright ,and should be touching the hearts of everyone in my country if these can do the same to us here in UK.People should know their leaders and elect real honest and truthful to save their country and rid of the most corrupt clout of PPP-Z,MQM,MMA,MLQ,ANP immediately.However,I also appreciate Sarmad sahibs' article .
Mian sahib realized after forty months to 'state the obvious' when the worst ever corrupt, incompetent government of PPP-Zardari had done its irreparable damage to Pakistan and its 16.5 poor and safaidposhs..He watched country sinking in all complacence to only assure his family business empires and Raiwaind ,sugar,textile,steal mills, poultry farms roll into one of the biggest in the world.MNS does not see yet that there is no proper Foreign minister for the last many months,the President, the supreme commander is the worst ever corrupt President, and so his Prime minister. The Defense minister is a zombie .What better could nation and media expect from this government in Abotabad,Mehran Naval base,Raymaond Davis,Flood management,electricity,economy,Karachi target killings of thousands, trillion dollars live speeches of Altaf Hussein from London inciting ‘jawans and generals’ to set for mutiny and lodge MQM in Center as absolute power to complete the task Musharraf started for them,. ,trillion dollars bathakhori in Karachi of PPPZ,MQM,ANP,drones killing in thousands,country enslaved to IMF,drones,UK,USA etcSaleemShahzad etcetc when every thing has been put to rudderless, most corrupt, leadership of the worst ever munafaks,qatils,mufadprasts,coalition cartel of PPP-Z,MQM,MMAA,MLQ and Mian sahib did not play his part well excepting when his ‘dum’ came under the feet as during Governor raj and he set out on Long March and now when he has missed his boat and also the nation boat rock in hurricanes.Even the media is scared to death to sometime speak the truth or pursue the truth or see the obvious truth..When Zulfikar Mirza exposed publicly the murderers of Karachi target killings in thousands and of Wali Khan ,it dare not pursue the murderers as indicated by Zulfikatr Mirza before he was shown door by his mentor Zardari to make him a scapegoat to save his throne for appeasing MQM.The media is either owned by MQM,its party workers dominate media world,even scripts and questions format come from Nine zero,the TV anchors,newscasters 90% are MQM foot soldiers projecting it as god mother,messiahs.The so called free media is also scared to death to speak one true word against the urban political terrorists of Karachi.Unfortunately,we have become nation of 'munafaks,mufadprsts'and youth of 'Chulbul Pandeas,and Shelias and Mdancing munis 'ruining the ideological base of our great country.Courtesy-Karachi based TV channels promoting hedonism to serve alien agenda of India,West,America,Neocons .We see its results every hour,every day,every minute and we keep our eyes blind when it suits our political vested interests no matter 16,5 crore poor,safaid posh are pounded to pieces by rampant loot,plunders,butchering 'mehangi',tariffs our business empires misy increase by trillions of dollars.
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