The Monday press conference by Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor, the Inter-Services Public Relations director general, covered a lot of ground and addressed many questions. It also left behind some fresh questions.
The most important concerns, according to the military spokesman are foreign funding for the Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement and the idiom and style of the PTM at its protest demonstrations. The ISPR chief mentioned several instances of PTM leaders receiving funds from hostile neighbours. He also said they had had several meetings with the enemy. He announced that law would take its course against PTM leaders who had been flouting it. He added that the law-abiding citizens of what had been the Federally Administered Tribal Areas would not be harmed.
It appears that the military or the government will approach a court of law to seek action against the PTM leaders and produce tangible evidence of their guilt. There was no ambiguity about the message as the general (twice) told the PTM, “Your time is up.”
Army officials have been in talks with the PTM, which has held a series of big rallies. The PTM demands have included clearing of mines, removal of check posts and location and release of the missing people. The army has claimed it has addressed the concerns and is disappointed that the bitterness in the PTM rhetoric for the army has shown no signs of going away. Slogans against the army continue to be raised at PTM rallies and the same complaints continue to be reiterated.
It seems that the army would have done well to initiate legal action on foreign funding against those it has evidence against while also engaging the people of former tribal areas for an amicable resolution to the tense situation.
Gen Ghafoor has also urged the media not to ‘project’ such elements. This request has an uncertain ring to it. The best thing under the circumstances would be for the courts to hear the case against the PTM and decide it at the earliest. Making it a game to be played out in the media is likely to cause more confusion rather than resolve any issue.
Another important issue mentioned at the press conference was the mainstreaming of seminaries and their regulation by the Education Department. Several efforts of the kind have failed in the past. Of course, the students can only benefit from reforms should there be a firm resolve on the part of the authorities concerned and an agreement among the stakeholders.
The ISPR chief gave a great account of himself while fielding some pointed questions asked by journalists. Interaction with the media can be a good thing for the military as it can promote openness. Predictably, however, the public relations exercise, tends to draws flak from the opposition when matters in other jurisdictions are discussed. Having restored peace to the region, army is a major stakeholder in the former tribal areas. This is not going to change any time soon. However, when it comes to announcing government policy it is appropriate for the military to yield the center stage to civilians. *