What should the army do?

Guest Post by Aqil Sajjad

There are some rumours that the PPP is planning to use the army to curb the long march. One hopes these stories turn out to be false, because if the military were to side with the government against the lawyers, it would be pitting itself against the people of Pakistan. Its public image would take another serious battering, and army officers would again come in for a lot of abuse from angry people when they went out in their uniform, as was the case in the post Nov 3 days.

This would be very unfortunate, since we need the army to play its due role in the defence of the country with full public support, rather than getting into a fight with te civil society on behalf of some vested interests.

The convenient excuse of merely following orders from the elected government, no matter how cute, will have very few takers. This is because the army does not have a clean track record when it comes to following orders from civilian authorities. Two most recent instances of disobedience of very legitimate orders pertain to May 12 and Nov 3. On May 12, the Sindh High Court had summoned the Karachi Corps commander so that violence could be prevented, and on Nov 3, the Supreme Court issued an order against Musharraf’s assault on the judiciary.

If the army now intervenes on behalf of Zardari against the restoration of the legitimate judiciary under the pretext of maintaining peace or obeying orders, the contrast with May 12 and Nov 3 will not be lost on the people. It will become clear that the army only acts to protect the corrupt elite against the interests of the ordinary people, rather than accepting an independent judiciary, which may be the people’s only hope for justice against the excesses of the powerful.


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23 responses to “What should the army do?”

  1. QaimKhani Avatar
    QaimKhani

    Army should get rid of all the high ranking Generals and then hang them together with Zardari, Nawaz, Altaf Hussain, and Bugti clans. No Elections forever and work on providing Water, Electricity and Jobs to the people.

  2. anercan Avatar
    anercan

    Remember Missing Person Case is an important hurdle in the restoration of deposed judiciary. NRO architect Kayani will never let the judges come back as it will also endanger himself along with Zardari. There is a long list of beaurocrates who supported Mush in his unlawful act, Secretery Interior Kamal Shah being one of them.

  3. Anwar Avatar
    Anwar

    Is this posting an outcome of scholarly analysis or just a hypothetical stretch?

  4. farrah k raja Avatar
    farrah k raja

    People remember who is asking army to come in?

  5. farrah, k.raja Avatar
    farrah, k.raja

    Well !shameful and extremely hurting is the fact that difference between Martial rule and civil government is blurred.

    Despite Musharraf supporter I never support Millitary rule or army rule.

    The problem is Bhutto used millitary ,Nawaz left no option but the millitary to come in.

    At present Judiciary,Nawaz and Zardari are working on the same lines.

    Civil disobedience and riots after bringing all the hatred to people's hearts regarding army ,who is playing this game??

    Whom do we support?

    Personally I made a choice based on the reality;it is Pakistan army who will stand with us till the last man standing whereas all politicians will run away.

    Correct me if I am wrong in my choice.

    Worst is the situation in Pakistan is hopeless.

    The very Nawaz if in power will again ask army to march against PPP.

    People of Pakistan,how many times would we have to try them.

  6. temporal Avatar

    What should the army do?

    elementary my dear watson:)

    sit tight

    let the civvies fight it out amongst themselves

    and as a resolution appears

    strike hard

    people have short memories

    at that stage they'd welcome the khakis

    with garlands and sweets

    (am just gazing into my crystal ball)

  7. dr.jawwadkhan Avatar
    dr.jawwadkhan

    ashfaq pervez kiyani is a professional soldire. i hope he is not planning of take over.however as a most powerful institution of pakistan they can and they should send a strong message of disapproval of current political conditions.

    it is the best for every one that army will not intervene.

    also they should refuse to use the force against the participants of the long march.

  8. Amj@D Avatar
    Amj@D

    @QaimKhani

    ——————————-

    "Army should get rid of all the high ranking Generals and then hang them together with Zardari, Nawaz, Altaf Hussain, and Bugti clans. No Elections forever and work on providing Water, Electricity and Jobs to the people."

    ——————————-

    We all respect your emotions. This kind of replies are see from the Nation who have no Vision n who don't know exactly what is right n what is wrong.

    We know that we had miserable past n had so bad politicians in the past. But if you gonna kill them all, do you think that you will be survived anymore?.. there will be killing everywhere.. there will be no rule at all and you will go back to days when British Empire was ruling on us. Better keep your EMOTIONS IN CONTROL !!

    ————————————————————

    @Anwar

    "Is this posting an outcome of scholarly analysis or just a hypothetical stretch?"

    this is not a Scholarly Anaylysis for sure. It's like someone is imposing his/her expressions on all of us.!! In short, this is an Individual's point of view.

    I wish that next time , atleast the person who is handling this BLOG will write above somewhere, that this is not a scholarsly anaylysis, this is something he think/ or this is his opinion about something..

    PLEASE DON;t MISLEAD people ..

    I feel so strange that our new generation is relaying more on BLOGGERs. n those bloggers who are just imposing their views n thoughts on Others!!

    ———————————————————–

    @dr.jawwadkhan

    Kiyani is a professional Solider , then what exactly was Musharaf ??.. did he told you personally that he is not planning to take over and will let Pakistani Politicians do whatever they want…!!

    Always comment n make assumptions when you have proper information about something. Better see the current situation of Pakistan and then conclude that there are chances of Army Takeover or not …. Well the Analysts say YES there are chances and Zardari's GOvt. will end very soon and only a Miracle can save his Govt.

    Everything we are facing today is just because of us, BECAUSE OF ALL PAKISTANI CITIZENs. we are the one who choosed these bloody politicians.. then WHY ARE WE CRYING NOW!!! …

    – We were not and are not united as Nation

    – We are the Nation who have No VISION at all

    And again It is writen in Quran as well "The Leaders will be same as their Nations", we all do deserve this.

    Better face it!!

    (sorry if someone don't like my comment)

    (i will request the sleepy blog owner to come to here n post something n better allow everyone to express here, inspite of PENDING our comments n which r later on accept/rejected by moderator)

    Tc all

    Amj@D

  9. Amj@D Avatar
    Amj@D

    Oops!! i missed some words above.. here is the post again

    @QaimKhani

    ——————————-

    “Army should get rid of all the high ranking Generals and then hang them together with Zardari, Nawaz, Altaf Hussain, and Bugti clans. No Elections forever and work on providing Water, Electricity and Jobs to the people.”

    ——————————-

    We all respect your emotions.Well we do see such replies from the People who have no vision n who don’t know exactly what is right n what is wrong.

  10. Amj@D Avatar

    Oops!! i missed some words above.. here is the post again

    @QaimKhani
    ——————————-
    “Army should get rid of all the high ranking Generals and then hang them together with Zardari, Nawaz, Altaf Hussain, and Bugti clans. No Elections forever and work on providing Water, Electricity and Jobs to the people.”
    ——————————-

    We all respect your emotions.Well we do see such replies from the People who have no vision n who don’t know exactly what is right n what is wrong.
    Oops…forgot to say great post! Looking forward to your next one.

  11. farrah k raja Avatar
    farrah k raja

    @TEMPORAL

    This time there will be no garlands.Trust me.The mutual consensus of Nation is No to army.

    Unfortunately Mr.Bhutto was hanged by Zia's Judiciary and Nawaz coup ended in the counter coup by Musharraf.

    Both of them singled out army as their common enemy.Both of them worked hard against army at grass root level.

    I find a reluctance in me to accept army comming in,I presume the same reluctance lies within army ranks as well.

    Our army is stretched to the maximum.

    This time we do not need crystal ball but maybe magic wands?

    Or some reasoning to these politicians to use backdoor channels and reconcile.

    Media should stop highlighting this March as a revolution.Nawaz has created enough pressure and Zardari and Nawaz must be told as a result of current crises both of them will be BOOTED OUT TO A REMOTEST ISLAND in the world,perhaps Alska.

    Same goes for Chaudhry Shujaat Group,why should they be excused?

    Neutral and fresh faces should come in,mixture of people from various sections of society should come in.

  12. dr.jawwadkhan Avatar
    dr.jawwadkhan

    @AMJ@D!

    Does a monkey know what is right and what is wrong?

    tell me why we say that "bandar kia janay adrak ka maza"?

    tell me why the monkey is so keen of "finger"(middle one)?

    ooops! forget to say that your last post is a perfect example of monkey business.can't wait for next post.

  13. Malik Aman Avatar
    Malik Aman

    NAWAZ DIES IN LONG MARCH IT IS BLAMED ON GADDARI CAOS IN COUNTRY PEOPLE DIE BUILDINGS BURN THAN FINALLY PEOPLE CALL ON ARMY THEY COME AND EVERY THING IS IN ORDER

  14. Ali Shehryar Avatar
    Ali Shehryar

    Pakistan is on the verge of experiencing its first revolution.From all that is evident , things are going to get ugly and there is going to blood shed.Zardari and his dogs will and are going to go to whatever extent possible to save their lives and their offices.Army under all circumstances should stay out of today's politics.Bringing it into politics can cause two established possibilities:

    1) It sides with Zardari , gruesome acts of violence are conducted , people get even more frustrated and a civil war starts.

    2) Army is called by the government but then the government faces the music , martial law is declared and all the present government members are put behind bars.

    Whatever the case , the ultimate losers are pakistani people because then again we'll be repeating history , dictatorship prevails and this cycle continues for times to come.

    Right now the government should realize their days are numbered , so the most honourable thing to do would be to reinstate Justice Iftikhar ,see him dissolve NRO and face the charges , new and the old.

    but who am i kidding thats never going to happen.

  15. farrah, k.raja Avatar
    farrah, k.raja

    Ouoooooooooch!Malik Sahab

    @NAWAZ DIES IN LONG MARCH

    That is harsh .Let us not conjure up ugly images.

  16. Freedom Avatar
    Freedom

    Army should remind Zarda can be distributed to kot lakhpat.

  17. Malik Aman Avatar
    Malik Aman

    yeh it realy hurt's raja shahiba but prepare ur self for the worst to come

  18. farrah k raja Avatar
    farrah k raja

    Malik Sahab

    The worst happened ,a female political leader ,who stood against Zia was murdered in broad day light.

    People cried for Bhutto,for Zia and Benazir in equal measures.

    Does it matter any more,people die everyday,we just shrug it off and get on with life.

  19. SajidArain Avatar
    SajidArain

    Zardari should leave the government.This is the only way to have peace in country.

  20. SajidArain Avatar
    SajidArain

    Pakistan is in a very critical situation there is a need of revolutionist party.I think the only party in the country i-e PML(N).

  21. dr.jawwadkhan Avatar
    dr.jawwadkhan

    @sajidarain!

    some one asked the qais "majnoon",his opinion about future ruler of the arabic pennisula.

    majnoon said "i think the best person for the ruling of this country is nothing but "laila".

    do not mind dear! but revolution requires a revolutionary leadership.

    i think you are wrongly convinced by shehbaz shareef's speeches. his reading of habeeb jalibs poems in large gatherings, his bhutto style hitting of microphones and shareef brothers statement that they are "baghi" of the system.

    no offence! but shareef brothers are far from the category of revolutionists.this is just a political game.

  22. noman Avatar
    noman

    lolzzzzzz

    dactar jawad! i have already shown u the lighton one blog.however the use of middle finger is an offensive word and should not b repeated in public.i wonder why do u use abusive and offensive language …always

    y ur absent from that blog????out of answers?

    lolzzzz

    i know that u support taaliban as u have supported suicide bombings and use of human sheilds etc.however if ppl like u believe that they can misuse the name of islam then ur sadly mistaken.

    shame on you!!

  23. Gangster18 Avatar

    I think we all struggle with from time to time. ,