Is Pakistan Army loosing its grip on polwer?

As Pakistan Military Power Ebbs, World Benefits Summary: Pakistan’s military, which has dominated the country for much of its history, is losing its grip on the government. If democracy is ever to flourish in Pakistan, the Army must stay in their barracks. By Wahab Raofi Social change doesn’t happen without a cause. It can be triggered by unaddressed grievances, social injustice, a pandemic, natural disasters or other crises.The pain of such causes can result in positive and productive change, and Pakistan could be on the brink of such a transition right now. Since its foundation in 1947, Pakistan has spent much of its existence under military rule, as the Army continually violates its constitutional mandate. Even when out of power, the military has exerted behind-the-scenes influence to maintain its firm grip on the political system and national security.But this beginning to change. In the past month, anew alliance of 11 political parties called the Pakistan Democratic Movement held two large rallies, calling on Prime Minister Imran Khan, who stands accused of being installed in his position by the Army, to resign. The movement, which includes the country’s two major parties (which had been fierce rivals for decades), are demanding that the Army keep its hands off the government. The Washington Post writes that until now, the Pakistan military “has been widely admired, despite periodic crackdowns on dissent and journalistic freedom. It is rarely criticized, except in oblique terms, and is not expected to be seriously damaged by the current protests, which have largely been galvanized by frustration over rampant inflation that has doubled the prices of food staples in the poor nation of 230 million.” Nonetheless, the accusations against the Army include its support of terrorism, abuse of human rights, corruption and interference in the country’s government. The mass resentment is building not only among ordinary citizens, but also among Pakistan’s political elites. In a stunning departure from Pakistani norms, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif accused an Army general of backing his removal from office on corruption charges in 2017 and rigging the 2018 elections. It was the first time an establishment politician had ever made such accusations. “General Qamar Javed Bajwa, you packed up our government and put the nation at the altar of your wishes,” Sharif said in a video statement. “You rejected the people’s choice in the elections and installed an inefficient and incapable group of people … General Bajwa, you will have to answer for inflated electricity bills, shortage of medicines and poor people suffering.” In the past,the country’s judicial system remained silent on the Army’s disregard for the law and its interference in the country’s politics, but this, too,is changing. The Wall Street Journalreported that recent judicial rulings have undermined the Army’s clout: “Pakistan’s judiciary is stepping up to curb the country’s armed forces, an unexpected challenge for a military that has extended its power in recent years behind the scenes.” Moreover, Pakistan has a burgeoning middle class trying to be heard.Sarfraz Khan, a professor at the University of Peshawar, said after attendinga rally in the city of Gujranwala, ”The middle class is widening and playing a bigger role in development. They want the army to be confined to its institutional role so they can conduct business. They want democracy, peace and rule of law.” In its Global Wealth Report 2015, the financial services company Credit Suisse said Pakistan had the 18th largest middle class (6.27 million people) in the world. In the past, the Army has enjoyed unrestricted free range as it posited itself as a force for stability among country’s fractured political parties. Now it looks like the days of Army bullying are numbered. Pakistan’s new generation is coming to believe it is capable of ruling itself.For democracy to flourish in Pakistan, the Army must sever its grip on government and accept that it exists to serve the people, as in any democratic country. A democratic Pakistan is crucial to world stability, as is the fight against Islamic extremists and international terrorism – which Pakistan’s Army is accused of harboring. A civilian-run, democratic government is less likely to harbor terrorists, and indeed would be more likely to combat it. With the Army no longer calling all the shots behind the scenes, Pakistan would take a big step closer to joining the international community. The best result would be, as Charles Dickens once wrote: “The misery with them all was, clearly, that they sought to interfere, for good, in human matters, and had lost the power forever.” - 30 -