report in Pakistan Today, Sept 27, 2023
ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar affirmed on Tuesday that the military will continue to play a significant role in the country’s politics unless civil institutions bolster their organisational capabilities.
This persistent imbalance prompts military interventions in the daily affairs of the government, Kakar stated during an interview with TRT World.
Kakar attributed this lopsided civil-military relationship to the long-standing deficiencies in civilian institutions over the past four decades. Whether it is education, healthcare, disaster management, or tax collection, he emphasised that civilians often turn to the army as a last resort to resolve pressing issues.
The interim PM accused the country’s political leadership of cultivating ties with the military for personal gain and political power. He criticised them for adopting a convenient and expedient approach, blaming the army for their failures when out of power, thereby perpetuating the perceived civil-military imbalance.
Kakar stressed that to rectify this imbalance and prevent further military intervention in government affairs, civil institutions must enhance their capabilities rather than weakening the organisational strength of the army.
When asked if the disciplined military would continue to be a political force in Pakistan’s near future, Kakar unequivocally affirmed, “In practice, honestly speaking and considering the ground realities, the answer is yes.”….
https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2023/09/26/pm-sees-no-end-to-armys-role-in-politics-as-civil-institutions-struggle/
