Chief of Army Staff, General Qamar Javed Bajwa reaffirmed the commitment of his institution to democracy and firm resolve to combat the threats posed to national security from within and aggressive designs of the enemy. Addressing the passing out parade of 142nd PMA long course at the Military academy Kakul, Abbottabad, the COAS highlighted the role of army, which is enshrined in the constitution for the protection of democratic values and defence of the country.
The COAS made it clear that Army will continue to support the elected government in accordance with its defined institutional role within the ambit of constitution, adding that army has always supported the nation and the nation has reciprocated the same. He dwelt upon the defence capabilities of army being a battle hardened force. He referred to botched attempts of the enemy to impose wars on Pakistan and strangulate its economy by selling a false narrativ to the international community. He said that no one should be under the illusion that people of the country have proved their potential of doing wonders and have stood the test of time.
Alluding to the frustration of the enemy, the COAS said that they are now targeting the youth through hybrid war. The objective of this war is to target the sense of hope, creating an atmosphere that nothing good can happen, whereas everything will be good here.
The contents of the speech of Army Chief provide food for thought to the particular political class, which is not accepting the verdict of people in favour of the present government in 2018 general elections. It was the same electoral process which brought to power other two main stream political parties on the results of polls in 2008 and 2013. The political cultures of the country is evolving and gaining strength and Pakistan will stand tall in the row of functional democracies in the near future.
PTI government is keen to reform the electoral system and for for which Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaisar invited parliamentary leaders for discussion. Leader of the opposition Shabaz Sharif did not accept the invitation and also leaders of other opposition parties, calling the meeting of parliamentary leaders to discuss electoral reforms as intervention in upcoming election affairs of an administrative unit of the country. This sort of contention is beyond comprehension. Being custodian of the lower house of the parliament, it falls within the mandate of National Assembly Speaker to call the meeting of parliamentary leaders of political parties to develop consensus on a national issue of immediate nature. The electoral reforms that government wants to introduce are not specific to one administrative unit of the country.
The leadership of political parties that have stakes in the statuesque does not want a truly participatory democracy, which is based on the fundamentals of rule of law and transparency. They want to perpetuate the oligarchic civilian rule. The main purpose behind convening of APC and formation PDM was to give the disqualified former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif a forum for spewing venom against the state and its institutions by giving vent to his spleen. Ironically, the contents of Nawaz Sharif’s speeches are defended through innocent interpretation that it did not contain anything against the constitution, ignoring the fact that constitution of Pakistan should not be taken for granted, while maligning the institutions of the state. Targeting state institution in speeches to public meetings is either by design or default promoting hybrid war against the country.
