Clear Signs of De Facto Martial Law in Pakistan

[VCheng]

While I am not supportive of an overt role for the military in the running of government, I think the issue is that a significant gap has been left open by the PML-N government. Why was an FM not designated for a very long time and why did NS wear dual-hats? These kinds of things mean that an institution that is much more focused on areas of concerns given its responsibility on matters of national security will simply fill up the vacuum. This is what is going on.

Secondly, the article has a clearly anti-Army spin. I was listening to the entire press-conference. The media asked pointed questions and the DG ISPR responded accordingly. One thing that should be avoided is being held up by some conventional constructs around how the military should behave in a democratic dispensation. We are clearly seeing that even in uber-domcratic countries, when push comes to shove, the norms are being flouted. A case in point is the ongoings in the US with Trump challenging all other pillars of the state in that country. There are things being said and done which run quite contrary to democratic norms. We have the most significant military influence *ever* in the history of the US with 4 generals (one in service), advising at the highest level.

Point being that national security is driving a lot of national agendas and while I may not like it, it is a reality. For Pakistan, the disqualification of the PM has happened at a time when Pakistan's security challenges have compounded. What are the alternates? Either we let a government without a lot of focus handle this element, or the military has to step in and do what it does from behind the scenes (this by the way happens in many major first world countries now post 9/11.)

As the ISPR said:

This is why you will hear the narrative that the Pakistan Army and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) are not in anyone's control," he said, referring to recent media reports that ISI officials had ties to militant groups.

"It is important that institutions work with each other. The institutions that are a part of the soft prong take charge when security improves," he said.

So it is only when security improves that the "hard prong" in charge now will relinquish charge to the "soft prong"? Interesting concept, that, given that it might, just might, may be, create the perverse incentive never to let security improve in order to retain the hold on power.

 

[T-123456]

What General Ghafoor’s remarks show clearly is that military is jihadised at the highest level, it has consistently used the street agitation by its religio-political quisling to pressurise successive elected governments over matters ranging from alliance with the US or peace overtures to India and is willing to use the blasphemy smear to stifle dissent.

Any comments on this part from Pakistanis or those with knowledge about the situation?

 

[BATMAN]

True democracy will only happen when people are allowed to choose leader of its own choice.
Not what is enforced upon by technical rigging organized by a corrupt system.
'ARMY' must be one choice in ballot papers.
Vote for Pak Army. No to political parties and politicians.

 

[El Sidd]

Any comments on this part from Pakistanis or those with knowledge about the situation?

Ask your government?

 

[Morpheus]

That's why the Hindutva hate the Pak Army.

Not just Hindutva, but US as well. The Pak army is too strong, and is stopping them to from achieving their objective of breaking Pakistan.

 

[El Sidd]

Not just Hindutva, but US as well. The Pak army is too strong, and is stopping them to from achieving their objective of breaking Pakistan.

That was way too ticklish.
Why are you assuming US has an objective to break a country which post no existential threat to Pakistan?

 

[WaLeEdK2]

If there is martial law it won't be exlcusivley directed towards the Sharif Family. It'll be across the board cleaning.

At this point army wants to avoid martial law at all costs and the politicians want it badly to becoming siasi shaheed.

 

[blain2]

"such countries tend to be status quo and don't like violence, for good purposes or bad."

They seem to have no qualms about perpetrating violence as and when their national interests require. Pakistan is no different. Yes Pakistan may be more limited than some of the global powers but it will do what it can to ensure its own regional interests are safeguarded to the extent possible.

This region is undergoing a significant realignment and being seen to be linked to the Taliban as an example is not unique to Pakistan any longer or even something that can be counted as a net negative. There is active interaction between the Taliban and Iran, Russia and even the Chinese. Their interests are in not having the Americans in Afghanistan. Pakistan on the other hand can work through that as well.

As far as the groups focused on India are concerned, those who deal with India and have a common view with India on seeing all things concerning resistance to occupation as "terrorism" may not agree with Pakistan, however in the face of Indian force being used to suppress popular dissent, Pakistan will continue to go its path even if its not in vogue.

 

[Awan68]

f uck this pseudo journalist, when the politicians actually start mutating the very constitution of a country to aid a disqualified thief than its these democratic vermin that are responsible for the death of democracy not the army, the army tolerated a lot of things for the past 5 yrs including repeated attacks on national security by the very civilian govt itself, they tolerated it just to let the system work but there is a line.....when a system that is meant to safe guard the interests of 200 mil turns rabid than it must n will be discarded, remember, a system exists for the nation, the nation does not exist for the system. The establishment compromised on a lot of things but there is a limit, nawaz shareef has proven himself to be far far worse than a dictator, he wants to form a family kingdom here n that can never be tolerated, the state of Pakistan is not the property of one family n the deep state shall ensure that never happens....

This time it would be

Oye begharaton sudhar jao

lol more like "mien akhiya se na sudhar jao"

 

[Morpheus]

That was way too ticklish.
Why are you assuming US has an objective to break a country which post no existential threat to Pakistan?

A weak Pakistan is easy to control, and turn against China, Russia or Iran. The only way to make Pakistan weak is to break it into pieces, since it easy to control many small countries, instead of one big country. Breaking Pakistan is objective of india, and right now that seems to help align with US objective, to make Pakistan weak.

 

[El Sidd]

A weak Pakistan is easy to control, and turn against China, Russia or Iran. The only way to make Pakistan weak is to break it into pieces, since it easy to control many small countries, instead of one big country. Breaking Pakistan is objective of india, and right now that seems to help align with US objective, to make Pakistan weak.

No white man has any interest on this.

Even less care for the Indian narrative.

There are more listeners of the sub continental USSR in India business.

 

[Awan68]

No white man has any interest on this.

Even less care for the Indian narrative.

There are more listeners of the sub continental USSR in India business.

haji sahib, bara e mehrbani, thori chorya kijiye

 

[VCheng]

remember, a system exists for the nation, the nation does not exist for the system.

Please do keep in mind that nations follow their systems into oblivion, or rise up only when they work properly.

 

[El Sidd]

haji sahib, bara e mehrbani, thori chorya kijiye

Sir aaj me bol raha hon kal koi or bolega.
Khabar par tabsaray se behtar khabar banao.

 

[Morpheus]

No white man has any interest on this.

Except when the "white men" blamed us for its failure, threatened us with sanctions, allied with our enemy to east, etc