NOVANEWS
By Sajjad Shaukat
Prevailing political impasse in the country has deepened, as protesting groups of Pakistan
Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) led by Imran Khan and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) by Dr. Tahirul
Qadri continue AZADI (Freedom) and INQILAB (Revolution) marches, observing sit-ins at
capital city of Islamabad, blocking sensitive Red Zone area and threatening vital government
buildings. They have negatively impacted the entire nation causing fretful anxiety for all
segments of society. The demonstrations have been prolonged and extended unnecessarily, as
the government of PML (N) led by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif could not grab the initiative to
settle the issue through peaceful dialogue due to its slow strategy.
On the one side, emotional speeches of Tahirul Qadri coupled with digging graves, showing
coffin-cloth and Imran Khan’s hard stance to get resignation of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif,
pointed at continuity of deadlock and impending perils of violence. One the other side,
government wasted vital time to address the rigging grievances of PTI, coldness and insensitivity
to register FIR against the concerned people, responsible for killings in Model Town, Lahore,
while recent failure of dialogue, rulers’ decision to use force against the protesters, which
resulted into killings in Islamabad by the Police including assaults on the reporters and vehicles
of the private TV channels have further spoiled the situation. It was due to the use of force that
the demonstrators who remained peaceful for several days, removed barriers and reached very
close to the buildings of Prime Minister House, Parliament and Pak Secretariat, while entering
the main building of the Pakistan Television’s headquarters which was vacated by the personnel
of Rangers and Pak Army without any violence.
Unfortunately, since the political crisis intensified, some politicians and most of the media
anchors have continuously been misguiding the general masses by indicating that the ongoing
system of democracy can be derailed, and martial law can be imposed in the country. Some of
them are playing a very negative role in projecting the entire gamut of political standoff between
the government and the protesting parties. By manipulating the political turmoil, created by the
politicians, they have blamed that Army and intelligence agency, ISI are behind Tahirul Qadari
and Imran Khan’s long marches, and sit-ins in Islamabad.
However, the civil-military relations in wake of the prevailing crisis need special analysis, as
some entities are dragging the Pak Army in politics.
In this regard, when PTI and PAT decided to demonstrate before the PM House, PTI president
Javed Hashmi who was also issued notice by Imran Khan regarding expulsion from the party
raised false allegations on September 1, this year. Javad Hashmi blamed that Imran and Qadri
have backing of Army. He parted ways with PTI and asserted that Imran Khan was prompted by
Sheikh Rashid to march towards PM House along with PAT. The estranged leader Hashmi also
said that Chief Justice of the Supreme Courte, Nasirul Mulk had association with the PTI chief
Imran Khan in this respect. But falsehood of Javed Hashmi was exposed when by rubbishing
reports of any association with Imran Khan, the Chief Justice clarified that he had only once met
with the PTI chief, as the acting Chief Election Commissioner about introduction of bio-metric
Even Imran Khan who strongly denounced Hashmi’s accusations, remarked that he never sought
Army and ISI help to resolve political issues, adding that he never supported martial law, and
always struggled for democracy. Tahirul Qadri also rejected Hasmhi’s false accusations.
In this context, on September 1, by taking note of the ongoing crisis and false allegations, a
statement of the Inter-Service Public Relations (ISPR) categorically rejected assertions that
the Army and ISI were backing PTI and PAT in any way in the current political standoff.
It elaborated, “Army is non-political institution and has expressed its unequivocal support
for democracy at numerous occasions. It is unfortunate that Army is dragged into such
controversies…integrity and unity of the army is its strength which it upholds with pride.” The
statement also said, “The news being run on private channels after meeting of the Chief of Army
Staff, General Raheel Sharif with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif that the army chief asked the
prime minister to step down or proceed on leave, is totally baseless.”
Javed Hashmi’s sensitivity towards establishment is one thing, but veiled pointing towards Army
for having conveyed a message through Sheikh Rashid is a cynical thought and a jaundiced view
point. It is an ugly attempt to spoil civil-military relations in the country.
Army maintains a totally neutral, having non-political stance. It is, however, deeply concerned
on prevailing political turmoil. On August 20, DG of ISPP, Maj-Gen. Asim Bajwa impartially
stated, “The buildings in the Red Zone (Islamabad) are symbols of state and must be respected,
explaining, “All issues should be resolved through result-oriented dialogue in the interest of the
Meanwhile, the ISPR press release regarding the corps commanders meeting held on August 31,
reaffirmed support to democracy—the conference reviewed with serious concern, the existing
political crisis and the violent turn it has taken. The statement, once again reiterated that the
situation should be resolved politically through dialogue, without recourse to violent means.
In fact, the government itself pulled the Army in politics when on August 28, Prime Minister
Nawaz Sharif asked Gen. Raheel Sharif to intervene and play his role in resolving the ongoing
political crisis. On August 29, Gen. Raheel Sharif met Imran Khan and Tahirul Qadri, but he
did not meet Prime Minister Sharif when the latter backed out of his statement, saying in the
National Assembly, on August 29 that the government did not asked the army chief to play any
role of a mediator to bring the current political crisis to an end. As criticism mounts over the
government’s seemingly desperate move to involve the military in the present political crisis,
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif told the parliament that it was Tahirul Qadri and Imran Khan who
requested a meeting with Gen. Raheel Sharif.
On the same day, both heads of the PTI and PAT, Khan and Qadri remarked that the
government’s claim that they had requested Army to mediate is nothing, but a blatant lie.
Besides, on August 29, ISPR statement verified that the army chief was playing the role of
facilitator for resolution of the current crisis at the request of the government. Moreover,
contradiction of Prime Minister Nawaz was further exposed when the Federal Minister Interior
Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan also justified military’s involvement as the only option out
of the deadlock, saying that the government had asked the army chief to play his facilitative
role. But in his speech, PPP’s Senator Aitzaz Ahsan though indicated that the parliament was
standing with the prime minister and government—would not fall, but, he severely criticized the
government about Model Town incident, corruption and so on.
In wake of the political uncertainly, join session of the parliament started on September 2. In
their fierce speeches, while, indirectly criticizing army, leaders of PML (N) and some other
parliamentarians said that they would oppose any move which could derail democracy in the
country by rejecting the unconstitutional demands of PTI and PAT including the resignation of
the Prime Minister Nawaz and the dissolution of the National Assembly.
Now, again, a team consisting of the leaders of PPP and Jamaat-e-Islami including some other
political persons who have met Imran Khan, Tahirul Qadri and government’s top officials are
hopeful that they would conclude an agreement between these rival entities, as they have become
guarantors in this respect, and would defuse the tension through dialogue.
Undoubtedly, democracy has displayed its success in the west, but, it has proved to be fruitless
in Pakistan. Therefore, it is generally said that “any instrument can be misused.” Pakistan’s
politicians and media have always claimed that they nourish democratic ideals, but, we could not
establish this system on a strong footing due to irresponsible approach of our political entities
It is noteworthy that in 2011, during the Memogate case, some political entities and media
commentators were saying that martial law will be imposed in the country. The then Chief of
Army Staff Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani stated, “The Pakistan Army has and will continue to
support democratic process in the country.” As Army was acting upon the principle of non-
interference in political affairs, therefore, the previous government completed its tenure.
At this critical juncture, our Armed Forces are successfully obtaining their objectives in North
Waziristan Agency (NWA) through military operation Zarb-e-Azb against the terrorists who had
challenged the writ of the state, and had frightened the entire nation by their terror-acts. Besides
helping the Internally Displaced Persons of the NWA, our security forces are engaged in coping
with the militants’ subversive activities in Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Karachi and other
parts of the country including tribal areas. Externally, Pak Army and Rangers have boldly been
responding to India’s unprovoked firing at the Line of Control in Kashmir including Working
Boundary in Sialkot and other sectors, and have also been facing cross-border terrorism from
Afghanistan side, encountering heavily-armed militants who from time to time, target check
posts of the Army, and other civil and military installations. So, Army does not want to involve
in political issues. In this context, the mediating role of Army and Javed Hashmi’s statement was
acrimoniously politicized which brought embarrassment for Army high command and caused
delay in resolution of the crisis. Army never sent any message to Imran Khan through Sheikh
Rashid to join PAT for marching towards the PM House.
Some media analysts and political leaders tend to show their loyalties to top political leadership
by mentioning about the possibility of military take over and they do not hesitate in insinuating
against Army for its hidden role in present crisis. Such elements have an agenda to spoil civil-
It is mentionable that external elements like India are keenly studying the developments, taking
place in Pakistan and are preparing wicked schemes to damage Pakistan’s interests. Having
cancelled scheduled secretary-level talks with Pakistan, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi
asserted that Pakistan was too weak to fight a conventional war, ceasefire violations along
LOC—and least mentioning about Indian desire to conduct business and trade with Pakistan. No
doubt, it indicates enemy’s intentions. Hence, there is a dire need to end the political impasse and
learn how to hold own Army in high esteem.
For the purpose, government must take the initiative, using comprehensive strategy and visionary
approach to resolve the issue by take holding dialogue with PTI and PAT leaders. Some
compensation has to be paid for earlier loss of precious time to address the grievances of the
Army as a prestigious institution fully supports the democratic system and averts all skepticism
of derailing democracy. Such thoughts are ugly in nature and must not be attributed towards
pro-democratic Army. Although Army is concerned about the prevailing political chaos, yet it
maintains a totally neutral stance. Therefore, sense must prevail upon those who tend to shift the
blame on Army and ISI. As these hostile internal entities have failed in resolving the ongoing
grave crisis, they have been dragging Pak Army in politics.
Sajjad Shaukat writes on international affairs and is author of the book: US vs Islamic Militants,
Invisible Balance of Power: Dangerous Shift in International Relations
