Mysterious banners urging Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif to contest the general elections in 2018 have appeared in Rawalpindi, a few weeks ahead of the army chief’s retirement. Unlike unconstitutional demands of earlier posters, the banners call for ‘no extension but reduction’; this demand pertains to reduction of one year in the minimum duration of two years before a retired government servant can enter politics, as well as urge General Sharif to enter the political arena and contest the elections in 2018. The banners call on the government and the opposition to bring to an end “their divisive politics.” They also call on the army chief to enter politics in the hopes that “ties between the country’s civil and military leadership can harmonise.” Previously, banners addressing General Sharif had popped up in cities across the country, urging the COAS to ‘stay on’. In July, posters were seen in Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi and several other major cities, urging the general to impose martial law and form a government
of technocrats.
Amid the conspiracy theories and the debates that such moves had stirred earlier as well, the political parties should realise that they have not done much to improve the democratic system in the country in the past three and a half years. While the opposition has resorted to the politics of agitation, the government did not bother to come clean on the allegations to improve transparency either. The trust-deficit between political parties and the general public deepened and the resulting vacuum had to be filled in by someone; hence resulting in such calls from the people.
Despite the popularity of General Sharif, even if he decides to venture into the political arena, no such exceptions should be made. For long, Pakistan has been governed by ad-hoc decisions. There should be continuity in the democratic system, and everyone should follow the standards set by the constitution. Furthermore, the appearance of such banners in some of the most sensitive areas shows a ‘lethargic’ response from law-enforcement agencies.
Moreover, the silence of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on the issue of next COAS has also stirred quite a few controversies. Although it is entirely at the discretion of the prime minister when he wants to reveal the name of the next COAS, under the prevailing circumstances, he should have at least broken his silence on the issue to put the conspiracy theories to rest.
Lastly, Pakistan has seen military rule for almost half of its life. Political parties either did not exist as popular entities or were banned during most of that period, and politicians were demonised to such an extent that the results are evident to date. Furthermore, the behaviour of political parties has not helped much to consolidate their image in the eyes of public either. It is about time that the political parties realise the need to strengthen the democracy as well as educating the public in this regard.
Notwithstanding the weaknesses of democracy in Pakistan, under no circumstances the democratic system is to be derailed for any other form of government. For the short and long term progress and stability of Pakistan, it is imperative to strengthen the democratic model of governance without resorting to pretexts and justifications to discard it. The biggest loser in the process of derailment of substituting democracy with dictatorship is always simply one: Pakistan.*
http://dailytimes.com.pk/editorial/08-Nov-16/reappearance-of-pro-gen-sharif-banners
Comments are closed.