Daily Times

On April 29, the government announced what sounded like the conclusion of the mysterious Dawn Leaks saga. In response, the DG ISPR posted a rather provocative tweet to the effect that the army “rejected” it since it was not “in line with recommendations of the inquiry board”.

It was, I am sure, an unfortunate choice of words; forgive him. Like me, he is a blunt soldier. Had I been assigned such a delicate task when I was still in uniform, some two decades ago, I might have said something worse. I have learnt more temperate language post retirement.

In any democracy, a rap on the knuckles of an army chief by a PM would be a matter of mild interest, unless it resulted in his sacking. Even then, it would have been a two-day wonder.

Not in Pakistan. Here, it’s an event for acclamation or condemnation for months to come.

If the confrontation between the Sharif duo, the NSA and DG ISI occurred as reported, the entire event was orchestrated.

Therein lies the real complaint of GHQ. Had the PRO or some official issued a statement on behalf of the prime minister, informing people that the NSA and DG ISI had been rebuked; a rebuke actually intended for the COAS; however untrue the accusation might have been, the military would have grumbled, even complained, but nothing more.

Unfortunately, our prime minister has acquired a reputation of striking only when the military’s back is turned. Had he called Gen Musharraf and told him to his face that he was sacked, the army might again have grumbled and mumbled, but not even Musharraf’s team — which executed the Putsch on his behalf — would have had the guts to do more. But that requires the kind of courage which, unfortunately, Niharee cannot provide. The prime minister sacked him in absentia and denied him plane landing facilities that endangered the lives of all passengers.

The PM’s office, in an attempt to close the chapter on an unsavoury event — one which had again backfired — announced the sacking of Tariq Fatemi and a senior Information Ministry official. The latter was mere collateral damage but Fatemi, who couldn’t fit the chair he was assigned and was on a permanent collision course with the well-respected Sartaj Aziz, had become excess baggage. If there were a luckless innocent here, it’s poor Cyril Almeida.

I am a democrat. I have repeatedly acknowledged that of the available options, in my considered view, the PML-N does my country the least damage. Despite frequently shooting themselves in the foot, its incompetent leaders have still made a modest recovery to the damage done by its predecessors.

It has been a [reluctant] partner to Zarb-e-Azb and Radd-Ul-Fasaad. While NAP may not have done much, it has permitted the considerable military liberty of action to fill the vacuum they have created.

Had the PM rebuked the army chief when rebuke was deserved, I would have showered praise on him. Had he tried to reclaim the politico-diplomatic space it voluntarily ceded to the military, I would not only have lauded it, but I would also have volunteered to advise him how, gratis!

Had the PM resorted to better governance and the rule of justice to reestablish his supremacy over the military, I would have stood alongside him.

But, if he descends to cowardly chicanery, intended merely to malign the sole institution that this hapless nation still trusts, neither I will desert the institution I have served with humble pride nor my nation — the people I have been serving all my life.

Instead, in his inimical cowardice, he agreed to conduct an inquiry, hoping that the next chief he selected might be a ‘softer touch’ than Raheel, knowing that all he actually sought was enough time to find scapegoats.

Bajwa is as much a soldier’s soldier as Raheel. Like all such manoeuvrings, the entire event is despicable and ugly. Yes, this has become the world of politics, but that does not mean that I have to like it. Even if he had just continued to prevaricate and bide his time till the next elections, it was understandable. However, he has again chosen the most cowardly course of all. Having struck at the back, he has thrown his own adherents to the wolves.

I find this the most unforgivable of his acts.

The writer is a retired brigadier. He is also former vice president and founder of the Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI)