TRAITOR?

Written By: Barrister Amjad Malik

Army. Army, and Army I think it’s enough. The sacred amulet around 200 million Pakistani people must be taken out as ‘country’ is first than any other institution. I am perturbed by hearing the voices of dissent declaring randomly those as ‘traitors’ who are seeking accountability of institutions, and or seeking budgetary approval of defence by Parliament. Let’s be honest and fair. Army men and women are hired to do a job, same as policemen, and other law enforcement officers to protect the public and the country. Judiciary , Media, and politicians have a job to do too. These very institutions make and weak the state. Last few years, the institutions are decaying and we are at a brink where Pakistan may not remain governable under a possible civilian rule. The very reason that civilian institutions and hierarchy has not been strengthened enough to root out problems and address the challenges the state is facing. Let’s not divide the nation by posing questions whether army has less or more trust with its people. The issue is the relation of the people must be strengthened with its representatives and in return the state. Army must learn to respect the command and control system and try to bring itself under civilian rule and its constitution. Of course they reserve the right to retain control and raise important operational and sensitive security questions of national security at the right level and forums internally and or DCC but taking over and overriding the established mode will not be workable and acceptable at home or in the community of nations. Its not an honourable way to run a state by keeping them in transit for a long period.

Post Raymond Davis and 2 May 2011, OBL findings at Abbotabad, people’s relation with Army and its confidence on its capacity and capability has been if not damaged, severely disturbed. Naval Base attack and Rangers killing of a civilian unarmed Sarfraz Shah at Port basin Karachi post Akhrotabad killings of a few foreigners at will has posed many security questions of utter professionalism. These summary executions though are under judicial scrutiny but has quietened  many staunch advocates of Army’s direct relation with its people. People are demanding justice, and some form of institutional accountability which is a just demand to me. Journalists are being tamed where HW report is alarming post Saleem Shehzad’s untraced murder where dozens of journalists are being warned and chased to intimidate them restricting them to do their job. If at this juncture institutions do not get themselves under a constitutional cover, anarchy is looming at our borders and it will end either in a coup as usual, or a revolution or a long shot an ideal civil supremacy reign in Pakistan.

Nawaz Sharif is coming out as a champion of a cause of Strong Civilian rule. Army can play its role in suggesting the ways and means to achieve it too but for that they will have to get out of their shell and think positively. That is the very cause on which Pakistan was made ‘one man one vote’ rule. He is like many others is trying to bring that dream come true where Pakistan has a democracy, accountability and strong defence.  Other saner voices must come forward and support the call of civilian superiority in Pakistan. If we started intimidating those voices and declaring them ‘traitors’ than God forbid Pakistan may dip into a longer period of dictatorship again where rule of law becomes a dream. Pakistan has seen longer periods of military rules, with shorter periods of civil where never ending accountability on the name of corruption has been taking place with the aid of corrupt judiciary and establishment. That nexus has been broken since 9 March 2007 when Chief justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhary has said enough. Now in order to bring the dream of Quaid e Azam into a reality people must decide the ultimate command system as to who must govern the state and where the ‘will’ of people is vested, Parliament or army. Sooner we decide the better it is for the state to emerge in the community of nations with honour and prestige and move forward on the route to progress, modernity and economic betterment. If that decision is not made here then, any one incident may swipe what has been achieved so far.

Pakistan army is as sacred and important as is Judiciary, Police, Journalists, Lawyers, civil society and politicians. Lets not start calling names if someone try to show the right path. Lets not call those saner voices as ‘traitors’.  Pakistan army unfortunately has spent around 4 decades in power corridors and we all are responsible for not erecting a viable democracy where rule of law, good governance, justice and constitutionalism hold sway. As long as all stake holders do not sit on one table and see eye to eye with each other and have a joint aim to safeguard the national interest, promote supreme parliament concept  and produce a good governance, the people will remain confused about their loyalties. In the absence of a failure of the implementation on COD and negation of 18^th Feb mandate, people will keep seeing illusions everywhere and the loyalties will remain divided. Way forward is unity of command and single superiority with democracy coupled with good governance and accountability and strong defence. Let media, judiciary and parliament bring those civilians to account who run the country and make decisions and let the public decide who to govern the state of Pakistan and let our army men defend its country. Its time to leave perks and privileges and get on the business of defending the country, than the running it, the very job for which they were hired and they took oath and committed their lives ‘the defence of the realm as that very defence is in the dire need of protection from internal and external dangers. Army is ours but country is ours too, and loyalty to state is the primary obligation of its people and institution than a single organ. Let the people decide. who is ‘traitor’ is a question for history.

Barrister Amjad Malik is a chair of Association of Pakistani Lawyers (UK)

Saturday, June 04, 2011