Daily Times

In the wake of a statement by the visiting US Senator John McCain that he was deeply impressed by leadership skills of General Raheel Sharif, and hoped that he would continue to lead Pakistan, thousands of banners and streamers suddenly appeared on the streets of Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Hyderabad and Karachi, demanding “intervention” by General Sharif. This also coincided with a campaign on the social media that launched scathing attack on politicians, and an impression was created that the imposition of martial law was imminent. Reportedly, the man behind the banner campaign, Ali Hashmi, also demanded formation of a government of technocrats headed by General Sharif. Who actually financed and supported this campaign remains a mystery.

Unfortunately, for quite some time a sustained campaign is going on to denigrate the civilian government, and project a larger-than-life image of General Sharif. Some circles have also been slyly suggesting a military takeover. A debate was also triggered on the issue of extension in the tenure of General Sharif earlier this year that reached such a high crescendo that the ISPR had to clarify on behalf of the general that he did not believe in seeking extension, and would retire on the due date. That did set at rest the raging debate on the issue. However, one Mehmood Akhtar Naqvi did file a petition in the Supreme Court Lahore Registry, demanding a three-year extension in the tenure of General Sharif, maintaining that it was necessary for elimination of terrorism and restoring peace in Karachi. The petition, however, was dismissed by the court.

As far as the statement of the US senator is concerned, it was characteristically in line with the traditional US support for military dictators whom they find more obliging and easy to deal with than the civilian government. And which, in turn, makes mockery of their unrelenting boasting about supporting democratic dispensations. They always see things through their own strategic objectives rather than love for democracy. We also have a lobby within the country that is beneficiary of the undemocratic regimes, and therefore is always on the lookout to rock the boat of democracy by promoting anti-democratic narratives and urging the generals to make their move. A deliberate campaign is unleashed to make the people believe that the solution to the challenges confronting the country lay in hands of the generals. The present campaign is also meant to rub in the notion that in the present circumstances, General Sharif is the person who could surmount the challenges confronting the country. Probably, they are not aware of the fact that inciting military commanders for a takeover is tantamount to treason in terms of article six of the constitution.

The elements that are behind this campaign are not the well-wishers of this country. They are completely blind to and unmindful of the damage that what the previous ruling generals have done to Pakistan. It would perhaps not be an exaggeration to say that the phenomenon of terrorism that poses an existentialist threat to the country and sectarianism that is destroying the social harmony are the gifts of military dictators whose ill-conceived and self-seeking policies pushed the country into the crucible of a precipice. General Sharif is trying to clear the mess created by military dictators. Army as an institution is supposed to defend the frontiers of the country, and assist the executive in dealing with internal insurgencies and challenges to the writ of the state as and when required. It has no constitutional role beyond that. Any conduct to the contrary by military commanders is unconstitutional, particularly dabbling into civilian affairs, arm-twisting of elected governments and a military takeover. It also constitutes the breach of the oath that they take at the time of commissioning in the army, and the advice of Mohammad Ali Jinnah to them to show subservience to elected governments.

What General Sharif has done in the line of duty is quite commendable, and needs to be appreciated considering the fact that none of his predecessors proved himself equal to the task of fighting terrorism with the commitment and resolve that he has displayed in dismantling the infrastructure of terrorists in North Waziristan and restoring semblance of peace in Karachi. Nevertheless, the overall credit for showing the spunk to take on terrorists through Zarb-e-Azb and giving necessary political, legal and financial support to the operation lies with the government, and the entire political leadership that unanimously supported the offensive.

The solution to the challenges facing the country lies in more and more democracy and strengthening the state institutions. It is said that the worst democracy is better than the most benign dictatorship. The dictatorial military rules are an aberration and take the country further away from its cherished goals as they weaken the state institutions that are a guarantee for taking the country forward and leading it onto the road to progress. Democracy is about incremental and durable change in line with the wishes and aspirations of the people carried out through the chosen representatives. There is simply no short cut to achieving national objectives. We therefore need to go back to the drawing board, and re-evaluate things in the light of the vision bequeathed by the founding father. And that vision is making Pakistan a vibrant democratic entity.

Nevertheless, a recent statement by the DG ISPR that army supported democracy, and his tweet in the backdrop of the recent poster campaign that army had nothing to do with the calls urging General Sharif to launch a coup is very reassuring. It is a timely shut-up call to elements that are out to trigger yet another undesirable debate on the issue of extension in the tenure of the COAS and demanding a military coup.

The architects of this campaign are actually tarnishing the image of the army as an institution, and more so the image of the COAS. As a matter of principle extension in the tenure of the army chief is wrong. It can have a demoralising effect on those in the line of promotion, aspiring to succeed the coveted position. In a way it also reflects on the competence of other generals to shoulder the responsibility. Army is a highly disciplined and professional institution, and to my reckoning those who are lucky enough to make it to the rank of a lieutenant general are equally competent to lead the army. What actually is required is the institutional commitment to deal with a problem. As General Raheel Sharif in his statement regarding retirement on time said, the army is committed to eliminate terrorism, and the fight against terrorists would continue unabated till the scourge is totally eliminated. Whoever succeeds General Sharif is bound to carry forward the mission without any let-up or slackness. It is now a national resolve to fight it out against the terrorists.

The writer is a retired diplomat, a freelance columnist and a member of the visiting faculty of the Riphah Institute of Media Sciences, Riphah International University, Islamabad. He can be reached at ashpak10@gmail.com