fatman17
PDF THINK TANK: CONSULTANT
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Capital suggestion
One – Article 243 of the constitution states: “The federal government shall have control and command of the armed forces.” Two – the PML-N was elected into power by 14,874,104 voters. Conclusion – the PML-N has the constitutional as well as the electoral legitimacy to “control and command the armed forces.”
To be certain, ‘control and command’ are not facts but processes. Around the world, the ‘control and command’ by civilian governments over their armed forces either increases or decreases over time. The current melodrama is mostly about the PML-N’s attempts to increase the civilian government’s “control and command of the armed forces.”
The PML-N, wanting to achieve greater ‘control and command of the armed forces’, has at its disposal two sets of tools. The first set includes: using political rhetoric, using the Musharraf trial as a tool and/or defaming, bringing into ridicule the armed forces. The second set of tools include: using economic policy to release economic burden on voters and/or using anti-terrorism policy to strengthen internal security.
In my opinion, the PML-N is using the first set of tools. In my opinion, the PML-N is using the wrong set of tools. In my opinion, the PML-N’s ‘Project: Greater Civilian Control’ is being managed unwisely.
Now consider this:
One – Pakistan’s armed forces are in a state of a bloody war – the longest and the bloodiest in its history. Pakistan is at war – at war to save its soul. The Pakistan Army is at war – at war to save Pakistan from its enemies.
Two – Article 63 states that members of parliament can be disqualified if found to be defaming or bringing “into ridicule the judiciary or the armed forces of Pakistan.”
Conclusion – In order for Pakistan to win, Pakistan’s armed forces need three things: a strong chain of command, unit cohesion and confidence of the Pakistani society in its armed forces.
Unfortunately, Pak Army’s ‘chain of command’ is under attack by other organs of the state – the state that is in a state of war. Unfortunately, Pak Army’s unit cohesion is under attack (this could lead to widespread insubordination and chaos). Either consciously or unwittingly, attempts are underway to shake the Pakistani society’s confidence in its armed forces – a society that is in a state of war.
The very first step in the PML-N’s ‘Project: Greater Civilian Control’ ought to be the institutionalization of civilian oversight of the Armed Forces. The next three steps ought to be: Two – the PML-N must enhance the civilian government’s policing and intelligence gathering capacity. Three – on the Taliban front there should be a joint civil-military platform to take all major decisions. Four – the Pindi-Islamabad tussle is being fought out in the media. This ought to end (or Ishaq Dar’s efforts will go to waste).
To be certain, Pak Army’s chain of command, its unit cohesion and the Pakistani society’s confidence in its armed forces are the three prerequisites to Pakistan’s geographical integrity.
The PML-N’s ‘Project: Greater Civilian Control’ is being managed recklessly, heartlessly and unwisely. The PML-N must manage its ‘Project: Greater Civilian Control’ carefully, sympathetically and wisely.
The writer is a columnist based in Islamabad. Email: farrukh15@hotmail.com. Twitter: @saleemfarrukh
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