Pakistan's army warns opposition
Pakistan's top army commanders say there is a "malicious campaign" against institutions of the state by a small minority of vested interests.
BBC: June 1, 2007
The army warning comes amid a growing challenge to President Musharraf's decision to suspend the chief justice of the Supreme Court.
The move has galvanised opposition to the rule of Gen Musharraf, who is the head of the army.
Meanwhile, two TV channels have had their live broadcasts suspended.
The stations are among those that have given considerable coverage to the issues around the suspension of the chief justice, Iftikhar Chaudhry.
Obstructionist forces
The top army commanders issued their warning at a meeting of corps commanders in Rawalpindi.
The meeting was held ahead of schedule and correspondents say it is highly unusual for the army to issue press statements after such meetings.
But Friday's press statement said the army's top commanders "took serious note of the malicious campaign against Institutions of State, launched by vested interests and opportunists who were acting as obstructionist forces to serve their personal interests and agenda even at the cost of flouting the rule of law".
The statement also had the following warning: "Any attempt by a small minority to obstruct the aspirations of vast majority would only derail the nation from its path of progress and prosperity."
It concluded by saying that President Musharraf "appreciated unstinted support of the participants".
Moreover, Gen Musharraf assured the commanders that "nobody will be allowed to bring instability in the country".
President Musharraf seized power in a coup in 1999.
He is currently facing an unprecedented challenge to his rule by a combination of opposition secular and religious parties, as well as most of Pakistan's legal community.
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2 comments:
Running governments inevitably causes lot of criticism, which is healthy and constructive. It is a job to be done by democratically elected governments, with a protective role by military from external and internal threats letting the democratic institutions grow.
Pakistan military has failed to keep its role as an impartial state institution by over running the civil governments. It seems that army and president is clearly biased and behaving to protect a certain segment of society and people but not the entire nation.
If viewed from an extended perspective army has continued to loose its credible support gradually by breaking its oath by taking over the democratically elected governments, deliberately favouring one group against the other for false political gains, failing to advise civil governments for political improvements ensuring stability, and also failing to take up a mediatory role as opposed dictatorial postures.
And most seriously it has happened in presence of immense resources like over 70% of budgetary share, very resourceful military intelligence, and other allied agencies. It is not too late to learn a lesion even now otherwise we know well that once upon a time we had much bigger Pakistan. Can we learn lesions.
It is impossible to define the military’s role in this country. It is behaves like a political party, a trained army, a business franchise, and some times an invading military force.
Politics inevitably leads to criticism if in somebody’s opinion differs politically.
Current way of Pakistani army making up its own political base and leaving no stone unturned to keep the upper hand in staying in the power in an enforced pseudo-democratic way of governance.
If we judge this by any standard what turns out is that army is not doing its job right under boundaries set out in constitution.
Still there is a chance if Army recognises its role and start doing what it actually should be doing. Otherwise the hatred, disrespect, loss of faith, against military will continue to grow, which will unforgiving and unforgivable.
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