The PDM Paradox

The incumbent prime minister of Pakistan attacks the President and the Chief justice of Pakistan/ the Supreme Court and erroneously accuses them of prejudices; passing 42 members (out of 342) signed resolutions against the CJP/Supreme Court with threat of filing references against the CJP and asking him to resign. Above all the more dangerous are the deep cracks that have been exposed in the superior judiciary; whereas PDM is apparently trying a repeat of 1997 assault on the Apex Court and the CJP in a slightly different mode and even attempting to drag in the military by convening NSC meetings. PDM government leaders openly threaten it’s either Imran Khan or them. Whether the bullish PDM régime succeeds in pulverizing the Constitution and the Apex Court or the Supreme Court knocks down the raging bull with the final judicial punch, remains to be seen. Consequently, faced with the worst political, economic and judicial crises, the country seems at the verge of collapse, as the incumbent government perceives holding of provincial or general elections as a political suicide before they could get IK disqualified/imprisoned or deported and further weaken/ disband PTI. Will it impact the PTI votes and will PTI’s chairman buckle down remains a question mark.

However, the most alarming phenomenon is that the Army is getting blamed for the misdeeds of PDM regime, which the current leadership inherited from the former chief. PTI did not comprise of all saints and so is the case with PDM. Understandably, the Establishment in wider sense should also be feeling the heat of dismal performance by the PDM government in the face of highly polarized polity, economic bankruptcy, and judicial predicament. Ironically, at present while other parts of the Establishment are relatively comfortable in the background, the judiciary and Army in particular is faced with the most upsetting and unparalleled phenomenon that has been in place since April 2022, i.e. sharp public criticism on the senior military leadership as well as against the otherwise most respected national institutions, which had always been looked up to as the last hope after Almighty Allah.

Is it because of PTI propaganda or by the crafty maneuvers by the faltering PDM or failure of the Establishment to remain and look impartial, or mix of all of it? That needs dispassionate and honest soul-searching. It is stated with deep regret that the unprecedented misperceptions created about the role of the Army in the political mayhem in the last four years is considered appalling for the nation as well as for the state. In the absence of any other phenomenon or institution, i.e. a strong political system, a vibrant economy, a well-established justice system, a firm and uniform faith in religion or a binding national ideology, I postulated 33 years ago that Pakistan Armed Forces being representative of every nook and corner of the country with complete dedication to render supreme sacrifices in the defence of the motherland without any prejudice, was the “National Center of Gravity” that would keep the other elements of national power working in an orderly fashion. And God forbid, if that force of attraction in the National C of G ever got faded, it could then jostle the nation and the state into a black hole or a catastrophe. Alhamdulillah, the public at large including majority of PTI workers remain respectful to Pakistan Armed Forces with deep reverence for the Shaheed and Ghazi, which does not need PDM’s chameleonic self-serving media campaign.

At present, the PDM government with PML (N) in the lead and with PPP smartly following on heels, has very craftily pitched the Army against the PTI, especially by building a malicious political narrative after 9th May’s dastardly incidents by some frenzied hoodlums, who must be well-identified and given exemplary punishments as per the law of the land. Nevertheless, it is suggested with complete sincerity to the Army and the country that for expeditious and transparent dispensation of justice, the identified culprits of 9th May incidents should be tried in the anti-terrorism courts rather than in the military courts.

The PDM government has successfully sucked Army into political quagmire to hide its consistent failures, disobedience to the apex courts and dishonoring the Constitution, wiping their corruption and other criminal cases by amending the NAB and other laws as well as by prolonging their rule through unethical and unlawful machination and oppression; that is all in nutshell, which is getting the Army’s image soiled. The PDM’s 13 parties are prone to change their colours like a chameleon as soon as they feel power slipping out of their hands as has always been the case. And it will not take long for the Establishment to realise that the PDM is a case of a catch-22.

Not long ago, the state of Pakistan was looked up to by the Muslim world as a source of inspiration being the only nuclear power with strong armed forces, moderate outlook and promising growth rate. However, struck by the malicious external and internal collusions, mismanagement and corruption, sadly today Pakistan gives the impression of a rudderless ship hijacked by pirates and about to sink in a swirling vortex of multiple crises.

To get the rails back on the tracks, the Judiciary and Executives have to function 100% apolitical in true letter and spirit, which has to happen as an institutional imperative for the sake of the state and the people. The power brokers and three pillars of the country have to join heads to bring in place the much awaited political magnanimity for smooth progress and development of the country and the society. The current political acrimony and chaos in Pakistan smacks of 1971 and 1977…leading to most consequential hanging of Z.A. Bhutto on 4th April 1979; hence, that catastrophic path must be avoided. Is PDM bent upon acting as IJI (succeeded by PML-N) of 1977 and is Punjab going to repeat December 1970 Elections like imprudent role in politics (Pakistan went to polls on 7th December 1970. The Awami League of Mujibur Rahman scored a convincing victory, by securing 160 out of 162 seats reserved for East Pakistan. Bhutto’s PPP managed to get 81 seats against the 138 allocated for West Pakistan. Quite ironically, out of 81 seats, PPP got 62 seats from Punjab, and only 18 from Sindh and just 01 from NWFP; despite that Bhutto misused Sindhi language card to subdue demand for Bengali language as state language in East Pakistan. The non-acceptance of election results by PPP/ Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto caused loss of half the country and surrender of Army in former East Pakistan).

Prudence demands that the military institution should let the politicians and police/civil armed forces handle the self-created mayhem and avoid getting unwittingly dragged in the political swamp once again. The path forward requires bold actions. The military in cooperation with judiciary will have to play role of an honest umpire (desirably one last time); and enable much preferred immediate political dialogue and holding of free and fair general elections in the country to take place under absolutely apolitical judiciary/ Election Commission. Protection of the people and the Constitution is the laconic message for the Armed Forces of Pakistan being the saviors. That is considered the best remedy for restoration of the image of all state institutions as well as for prospective political and economic stability in Pakistan. The wisdom lies in learning from the history and not repeating mistakes. Pakistan Zindabad!