Whatever its eminences and minions may say, the ruling hierarchy's decision to hand over Islamabad's control to the army for three months is absolutely unacceptable. This indeed is a wholly indefensible and an irresponsible act by every reckoning. The constitution may be allowing the hierarchy to call the army in aid of the civilian administration. But none of the conditions permitting this is obtaining in the federal capital presently. And not even the hierarchy's spin doctors with all the sophistry at their command can convince a deeply sceptical citizenry that the move was justifiable at all in any manner except for political impulsions. That is too apparent to take anybody with even a modicum of sense for a ride. And, then, our people are no simpletons or nincompoops.
The hierarchy would really be stunned to know that not even the most gullible on the street has bought its touted mantra for taking this extraordinary step. Each and all over there are convinced that the hierarchy has been prompted on to this unadvisable move just to deal with Imran Khan's planned long march on the federal capital on August 14. And this has alarmed enormously not just a whole lot of the thinking people, but the commoners on the street as well. As he as yet stands adamant to go ahead with his intended march in any event, this could potentially put his political rally at cross swords with the army, if the hierarchy does go ahead with its plans to deploy the military at high-security zones and sensitive installations. And his planned venue for the rally does fall into this category.
Yet more disconcertingly, quite a lot of the citizens view this in the context of the assertions coming out from various ministerial quarters of the hierarchy, alluding vaguely, though not so vaguely, that Khan as also Tahirul Qadri are acting the way they are at the behest of some powerful forces. What that means is not hard to know. It is all clear like daylight to the citizenry from one to all. Hence, not illogically, many a citizen senses a deep sinisterly-laid-out stratagem in the whole move, even as it is generally felt that the army may not be all forthcoming in its response to the hierarchy's call for the obvious politically underpinnings of the move. Surely, the army is all for fighting against the terrorists, militants and insurgents for the security of the country and for the safety of its people. But in all probability it will be deadly opposed to getting embroiled in the political fracas of our politicos, whether in office or in opposition.
In any case, this hierarchy's call has drawn deep concern and apprehensions from all around. Its move is predominantly being viewed as wholly irrational, insane and potentially very baneful. Indeed, the very panicky way with which this hierarchy is reacting to Khan's intended rally is beyond comprehension. One is simply flabbergasted why it is in such huge jitters when it lays claims to a heavy mandate day in and day out. Perhaps, it is time for the hierarchy to understand that it is not a ruling clan that itches for tumultuous times. That doesn't suit it in any manner. It is only the opposition that looks for turmoil and turbulence, which do level up the ground for it to possibly reap political gains and dividends. For the rulers, it is peace, calm and tranquility that stand them in good stead to serve the masses and harvest tremendous political profits consequently.
Furthermore, this ruling hierarchy must know that it is only in regimented polities and despotic autocracies where the people at the top of the state apparatus can have their way as they like. Not in a polity that is not under jackboots. And in such a polity, it is accommodation, compromise and consensus that work. This hierarchy should get out of its fond fantasy, propagated no lesser by sections of our equally pretentious and pseudo intelligentsia and commentariat, that the army has to live like a valet in subordination of the ruling political leadership. Not even in entrenched democracies the armies function like that. Nowhere are they voiceless and powerless entities. They have their roles as potent as all others have in their respective domains. And their voice is very decisive in security matters as well as in foreign policies all over.
If this ruling hierarchy comes to terms with this pulsating reality, it will be at great ease, and so would be the polity at large. And one would have though very much wanted Khan not to make the august Day of Independence as the day of controversy, contention and division. Yet the ball is in the ruling hierarchy's court. It can let him have his rally where he had originally planned. And if the hierarchy is so intent to have a public rally of its own, it should choose some other venue. Why to put confrontation against confrontation and stridency against stridency? Let the day pass peacefully and harmoniously. His public rally would definitely pull no heavens down, if the ruling hierarchy is really so sure of its heavy mandate.
Sunday, July 27, 2014
Pakistan's Article 245 : Irresponsible act
Whatever its eminences and minions may say, the ruling hierarchy's decision to hand over Islamabad's control to the army for three months is absolutely unacceptable. This indeed is a wholly indefensible and an irresponsible act by every reckoning. The constitution may be allowing the hierarchy to call the army in aid of the civilian administration. But none of the conditions permitting this is obtaining in the federal capital presently. And not even the hierarchy's spin doctors with all the sophistry at their command can convince a deeply sceptical citizenry that the move was justifiable at all in any manner except for political impulsions. That is too apparent to take anybody with even a modicum of sense for a ride. And, then, our people are no simpletons or nincompoops.
The hierarchy would really be stunned to know that not even the most gullible on the street has bought its touted mantra for taking this extraordinary step. Each and all over there are convinced that the hierarchy has been prompted on to this unadvisable move just to deal with Imran Khan's planned long march on the federal capital on August 14. And this has alarmed enormously not just a whole lot of the thinking people, but the commoners on the street as well. As he as yet stands adamant to go ahead with his intended march in any event, this could potentially put his political rally at cross swords with the army, if the hierarchy does go ahead with its plans to deploy the military at high-security zones and sensitive installations. And his planned venue for the rally does fall into this category.
Yet more disconcertingly, quite a lot of the citizens view this in the context of the assertions coming out from various ministerial quarters of the hierarchy, alluding vaguely, though not so vaguely, that Khan as also Tahirul Qadri are acting the way they are at the behest of some powerful forces. What that means is not hard to know. It is all clear like daylight to the citizenry from one to all. Hence, not illogically, many a citizen senses a deep sinisterly-laid-out stratagem in the whole move, even as it is generally felt that the army may not be all forthcoming in its response to the hierarchy's call for the obvious politically underpinnings of the move. Surely, the army is all for fighting against the terrorists, militants and insurgents for the security of the country and for the safety of its people. But in all probability it will be deadly opposed to getting embroiled in the political fracas of our politicos, whether in office or in opposition.
In any case, this hierarchy's call has drawn deep concern and apprehensions from all around. Its move is predominantly being viewed as wholly irrational, insane and potentially very baneful. Indeed, the very panicky way with which this hierarchy is reacting to Khan's intended rally is beyond comprehension. One is simply flabbergasted why it is in such huge jitters when it lays claims to a heavy mandate day in and day out. Perhaps, it is time for the hierarchy to understand that it is not a ruling clan that itches for tumultuous times. That doesn't suit it in any manner. It is only the opposition that looks for turmoil and turbulence, which do level up the ground for it to possibly reap political gains and dividends. For the rulers, it is peace, calm and tranquility that stand them in good stead to serve the masses and harvest tremendous political profits consequently.
Furthermore, this ruling hierarchy must know that it is only in regimented polities and despotic autocracies where the people at the top of the state apparatus can have their way as they like. Not in a polity that is not under jackboots. And in such a polity, it is accommodation, compromise and consensus that work. This hierarchy should get out of its fond fantasy, propagated no lesser by sections of our equally pretentious and pseudo intelligentsia and commentariat, that the army has to live like a valet in subordination of the ruling political leadership. Not even in entrenched democracies the armies function like that. Nowhere are they voiceless and powerless entities. They have their roles as potent as all others have in their respective domains. And their voice is very decisive in security matters as well as in foreign policies all over.
If this ruling hierarchy comes to terms with this pulsating reality, it will be at great ease, and so would be the polity at large. And one would have though very much wanted Khan not to make the august Day of Independence as the day of controversy, contention and division. Yet the ball is in the ruling hierarchy's court. It can let him have his rally where he had originally planned. And if the hierarchy is so intent to have a public rally of its own, it should choose some other venue. Why to put confrontation against confrontation and stridency against stridency? Let the day pass peacefully and harmoniously. His public rally would definitely pull no heavens down, if the ruling hierarchy is really so sure of its heavy mandate.
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