ahlam1399
06-25-2016, 04:48 AM
Pakistan Army's political doctrine in the post-Musharraf era has revolved around support for the democratic system, ensured that the governments complete their full terms and helped in conduct of free and fair elections. In this context, the statement of ISPR DG, Lt-Gen Asim Bajwa, reassuring that "democracy is getting stronger”, has dispelled speculations about the emerging post-Eid political scenario.
But, it does **t mean that army is losing its grip on certain matters of national security and even foreign affairs, particularly the relations with United States, India and Afghanistan. General Bajwa was very clear when he said that the army provides all kind of support to the civilian government, when needed.
This doctrine is a continuation of the democratic system, which allowed the previous PPP government to complete its term from 2008 to 2013. The next elections is **w due in 2018, unless the PM himself calls early elections, or makes a blunder.
The DG ISPR's remarks, during an interview with German media on Pakistan's internal situation, attached importance particularly at a time when there have been lots of speculations in political and media circles about the post-Eid scenario, when the opposition parties, led by Imran Khan, might launch agitation against PM Nawaz Sharif.
Earlier, former army chief, General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, in the line of this doctrine, made a public commitment that the army would remain "neutral" during 2008 elections, something which surprised his predecessor General Pervez Musharraf, who had political ambitions to rule the country for some more years as the president with a new civilian government.
One of the main features of Pakistan's most popular army chief, General Raheel Sharif, has been his continued support to the democratic system despite having some problems with the civilian government on some internal and external issues.
In a related development, a report that the army chief had called prime minister and inquired about his health, who is **w expected to return before Eid. But, the political crisis is **t yet over for PM Sharif, unless he takes some bold decisions about "Panama Papers”.
This assurance has certainly given some extra confidence to the government, which has **w engaged with opposition for consensus on the **mination of four members of the Election Commission, who retired on June 10. It would be interesting to see any breakthrough on terms of reference (ToRs) on Panama Papers.
The main opposition parties, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), have decided to take the legal course. The PTI has already filed a reference against the PM with the ECP, while the PPP has decided to pull out of talks with the government.
General Raheel Sharif, who will retire in **vember, unless gets an extension from the PM, is Pakistan's most popular chief. Throughout his tenure, he has maintained his popularity and many independent surveys put his popularity graph above others.
Reasons for his popularity are mainly due to his courageous decision to launch the operation Zarb-e-Azb in the heart of the local and global terror networks in **rth Waziristan. Secondly, he kept himself and the army away from politics unless was asked by the PM himself to intervene in 2014, to end the stand-off.
So, he would certainly like to be remembered as the nation's hero and **t like to become part of any ongoing political power struggle over disagreement on the ToRs.
The opposition circles also welcomed the statement but believe that “support for democracy does **t mean support for the government as well. Change can still come within the framework of the Constitution”.
In Pakistan, the retirement of an army chief and appointment of a new chief is always considered one of the top stories, particularly in the context of civil and military relationship. General Raheel's predecessor, General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani had got one full extension from the previous PPP government in the backdrop of operation in Swat and South Waziristan.
General Raheel had created history early this year when he himself an**unced that he would **t seek any extension and retire on time. This generated quite a debate in the country. Some welcomed his statement and others believe that he must get an extension to finish an unfinished war against terrorism.
The general's task at present is to conclude the operation Zarb-e-Azb on good **te after ensuring complete settlement of the internally displaced persons (IDPs).
One of his greeted contribution is to bring the nation on one page against terrorism, but we are still far away from concluding the war against extremism, the root-cause for rising terrorism. General Kayani had termed extremism the biggest challenge and also that Pakistan's biggest is **t external but internal.
General's role during 2014 dharna was exemplary, when the army could intervene after August 30 attack on parliament, but he knew how the public opinion changes when the army enters the politics.
He knew what happened with former army chief General Pervez Musharraf who, prior to October 1999 coup, was the hero of Kargil and quite popular, **t only among Kashmiri Mujahideen but also among some political and religious parties. But, he was finally forced to step down as president as a result of lawyer movement.
General Raheel took the task of clearing **rth Waziristan, which at that time considered as the biggest sanctuaries of the local and global terror network and sleeper cells of al-Qaeda, Taliban, Uzbek and some sectarian outfits, but **t before giving the government a chance to negotiate with Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
Irrespective of what the West or the Americans think, the fact remains that there had been remarkable improvement in law and order across the country due to success in Zarb-e-Azb.
The general has predicted 2016 as the year to end terrorism from the country and Zarb-e-Azb likely to end by the end of the year.
A**ther success story is Karachi, which till last year, was in the right direction. But, a strong perception is **w growing that it is **w being politicised particularly the manner in which back-to-back videos of the MQM and the PPP leaders were leaked to TV channels. The MQM, in particular, feels it **w that it is being pushed to the wall from all corners.
General Raheel has to ensure that the Karachi operation should **t lose its direction as peaceful and **rmal business activity in the eco**mic hub is essential for progress.
There have been differences between civil and military on some key issues including relationship with India, the USA and Afghanistan in the later part of general's tenure. Pakistan also took some difficult decisions related to foreign affairs like matters related to Iran, Saudi Arab and joining Saudi-led 34 countries alliance.
Among other issues, the matter related to the trial of General Musharraf under high treason, certainly caused problems in relations between civil and military, which is **w more or less a settled issue after he was allowed to leave the country.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who last month had successful heart operation in London, is expected to return before Eid, to face political challenges in the aftermath of Panama Papers.
If the opposition managed to bring political turmoil in the country in the next two to three months, some political adventurists feel the army would intervene. But General Bajwa's statement is a setback for them.
In all probability, democracy is **t under threat but some democrats can have problem. Army's pledge to make democracy more strong also demand some major reforms from the parliament. **w, it’s up to civilians to deliver.
The writer is the senior columnist and analyst of Geo, The News and Jang.
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But, it does **t mean that army is losing its grip on certain matters of national security and even foreign affairs, particularly the relations with United States, India and Afghanistan. General Bajwa was very clear when he said that the army provides all kind of support to the civilian government, when needed.
This doctrine is a continuation of the democratic system, which allowed the previous PPP government to complete its term from 2008 to 2013. The next elections is **w due in 2018, unless the PM himself calls early elections, or makes a blunder.
The DG ISPR's remarks, during an interview with German media on Pakistan's internal situation, attached importance particularly at a time when there have been lots of speculations in political and media circles about the post-Eid scenario, when the opposition parties, led by Imran Khan, might launch agitation against PM Nawaz Sharif.
Earlier, former army chief, General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, in the line of this doctrine, made a public commitment that the army would remain "neutral" during 2008 elections, something which surprised his predecessor General Pervez Musharraf, who had political ambitions to rule the country for some more years as the president with a new civilian government.
One of the main features of Pakistan's most popular army chief, General Raheel Sharif, has been his continued support to the democratic system despite having some problems with the civilian government on some internal and external issues.
In a related development, a report that the army chief had called prime minister and inquired about his health, who is **w expected to return before Eid. But, the political crisis is **t yet over for PM Sharif, unless he takes some bold decisions about "Panama Papers”.
This assurance has certainly given some extra confidence to the government, which has **w engaged with opposition for consensus on the **mination of four members of the Election Commission, who retired on June 10. It would be interesting to see any breakthrough on terms of reference (ToRs) on Panama Papers.
The main opposition parties, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), have decided to take the legal course. The PTI has already filed a reference against the PM with the ECP, while the PPP has decided to pull out of talks with the government.
General Raheel Sharif, who will retire in **vember, unless gets an extension from the PM, is Pakistan's most popular chief. Throughout his tenure, he has maintained his popularity and many independent surveys put his popularity graph above others.
Reasons for his popularity are mainly due to his courageous decision to launch the operation Zarb-e-Azb in the heart of the local and global terror networks in **rth Waziristan. Secondly, he kept himself and the army away from politics unless was asked by the PM himself to intervene in 2014, to end the stand-off.
So, he would certainly like to be remembered as the nation's hero and **t like to become part of any ongoing political power struggle over disagreement on the ToRs.
The opposition circles also welcomed the statement but believe that “support for democracy does **t mean support for the government as well. Change can still come within the framework of the Constitution”.
In Pakistan, the retirement of an army chief and appointment of a new chief is always considered one of the top stories, particularly in the context of civil and military relationship. General Raheel's predecessor, General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani had got one full extension from the previous PPP government in the backdrop of operation in Swat and South Waziristan.
General Raheel had created history early this year when he himself an**unced that he would **t seek any extension and retire on time. This generated quite a debate in the country. Some welcomed his statement and others believe that he must get an extension to finish an unfinished war against terrorism.
The general's task at present is to conclude the operation Zarb-e-Azb on good **te after ensuring complete settlement of the internally displaced persons (IDPs).
One of his greeted contribution is to bring the nation on one page against terrorism, but we are still far away from concluding the war against extremism, the root-cause for rising terrorism. General Kayani had termed extremism the biggest challenge and also that Pakistan's biggest is **t external but internal.
General's role during 2014 dharna was exemplary, when the army could intervene after August 30 attack on parliament, but he knew how the public opinion changes when the army enters the politics.
He knew what happened with former army chief General Pervez Musharraf who, prior to October 1999 coup, was the hero of Kargil and quite popular, **t only among Kashmiri Mujahideen but also among some political and religious parties. But, he was finally forced to step down as president as a result of lawyer movement.
General Raheel took the task of clearing **rth Waziristan, which at that time considered as the biggest sanctuaries of the local and global terror network and sleeper cells of al-Qaeda, Taliban, Uzbek and some sectarian outfits, but **t before giving the government a chance to negotiate with Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
Irrespective of what the West or the Americans think, the fact remains that there had been remarkable improvement in law and order across the country due to success in Zarb-e-Azb.
The general has predicted 2016 as the year to end terrorism from the country and Zarb-e-Azb likely to end by the end of the year.
A**ther success story is Karachi, which till last year, was in the right direction. But, a strong perception is **w growing that it is **w being politicised particularly the manner in which back-to-back videos of the MQM and the PPP leaders were leaked to TV channels. The MQM, in particular, feels it **w that it is being pushed to the wall from all corners.
General Raheel has to ensure that the Karachi operation should **t lose its direction as peaceful and **rmal business activity in the eco**mic hub is essential for progress.
There have been differences between civil and military on some key issues including relationship with India, the USA and Afghanistan in the later part of general's tenure. Pakistan also took some difficult decisions related to foreign affairs like matters related to Iran, Saudi Arab and joining Saudi-led 34 countries alliance.
Among other issues, the matter related to the trial of General Musharraf under high treason, certainly caused problems in relations between civil and military, which is **w more or less a settled issue after he was allowed to leave the country.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who last month had successful heart operation in London, is expected to return before Eid, to face political challenges in the aftermath of Panama Papers.
If the opposition managed to bring political turmoil in the country in the next two to three months, some political adventurists feel the army would intervene. But General Bajwa's statement is a setback for them.
In all probability, democracy is **t under threat but some democrats can have problem. Army's pledge to make democracy more strong also demand some major reforms from the parliament. **w, it’s up to civilians to deliver.
The writer is the senior columnist and analyst of Geo, The News and Jang.
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/com/YEor/~4/77Qk6FcsbYQ
أكثر... (http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/com/YEor/~3/77Qk6FcsbYQ/130618-Armys-support-for-democracy)