IT seems some recent developments have forced the coalition Government to say goodbye to its policy of ‘wait and see’ as important meetings held on Monday took important decisions to establish rule of law and writ of the state with full force. Tweets of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and press releases issued after a long huddle of the leadership of the coalition partners and top civil-military leadership clearly convey an impression that strict actions are being envisaged to check anti-state activities and a consistent propaganda campaign against Army Chief General Asim Munir. This is also evident from the clear directions given by the Prime Minister to the Interior Minister to deal strictly with those running a smear campaign against the military leadership while Caretaker Chief Minister of Punjab Mohsin Naqvi has declared that police has been given ‘free hand’ to establish writ of the state, adding anyone attacking police will be paid back in the same coin. There are also reports of a consensus on holding elections of the national and provincial assemblies together and it is to be seen how this goal will be achieved in the given complicated environment.
In a separate but related development, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Umar Ata Bandial, while inaugurating the new building of the top court’s Quetta Registry, warned of chaos if rule of law was not ensured and courts respected. There can be no two opinions that progress and prosperity of the country is deeply linked to the rule of law and supremacy of the Constitution and Parliament but the ‘chaos’ that the Chief Minister is warning about is already visible to the silent majority of the people as we are descending speedily to become the proverbial ‘banana republic’. There is a general impression in the country that laws are meant only for the common man while influential people consider themselves above the law and the Constitution. The CJP has also called for adherence to the Constitution but who will ensure this when there is a dominant feeling the courts interpret the Constitution to suit expediency, which amounts to re-writing of the otherwise sacred document that cannot be amended even by Parliament without a two-third majority.
The free for all politics is to be blamed for the mayhem in the country as there is no accountability of those who confront national institutions, engage in sustained campaign against the national leadership and defy and attack the law-enforcing agencies. We have been hearing for the last several days about the possibility of a dialogue between the Government and the Opposition to sort out differences and forge consensus on important challenges confronting the nation but Monday’s developments indicate a legal and administrative strategy to uphold the rule of the law and the Constitution. About 250 local leaders, activists and supporters of PTI have already been booked for rioting and violence outside the main entrance of the Federal Judicial Complex in Islamabad on the occasion of the appearance of PTI chief Imran Khan before the District and Sessions Judge in Toshakhana case.
The hooliganism forced the trial court judge to defer the indictment and marked Khan’s attendance while the former prime minister sat in his vehicle parked outside the complex. The nature of the trouble in the court of law can be gauged by the fact that even the file of the case/court order sheet went missing in the process. Arrests have also been made in connection with attacks on Police and Rangers as well as damaging Police vehicles and public property during a raid at Zaman Park residence of Imran Khan in Lahore. In a declaration, the PDM expressed serious concerns over the use of trained people of banned outfits to invade institutions and attack them adding that it was an act against the State which could not be tolerated.
These measures and statement of the Punjab Chief Minister show the Government is determined to establish its writ as lack of action against violators was having a demoralizing effect on the police force. Unfortunately, there is also lack of trust in the neutrality of the judiciary as is highlighted by the declaration issued by the PDM which observed that standards of justice at present did not seem to be equal. “There cannot be two standards of justice,” the meeting’s participants observed, alluding to what it believes ‘prompt and undue’ relief provided by courts to PTI. As for propaganda against the Army Chief and the Pakistan Army, we have been emphasizing, time and again, in these columns that a country is made up of institutions and attempts to weaken or malign institutions amount to weakening the state. Former Information Minister and central leader of PTI Fawad Chaudhry has claimed that the Government was trying to create a wedge between Pakistan Army and people (PTI) and that the party respects the Army Chief. However, the question arises who was forcing the PTI leadership to issue statements, release tweets and encourage anti-institutions propaganda on social media.
The Prime Minister has already asked the Interior Minister to expose those involved in such propaganda while the proposed Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to probe developments of the last one week or so in Punjab, especially in Lahore, would make things clear. The propaganda against Pakistan Army and its leadership was particularly worrisome as it was providing stuff to Indian lobbies the world over to malign Pakistan and paint its armed forces in a negative light. Action or no action, all political parties and their leadership must exercise utmost restraint and issue clear directions to their workers and supporters to desist from maligning national institutions.
There is absolutely no justification to target the Pakistan Army for political motives when the institution has taken a firm decision to remain firmly apolitical. The Pakistan Army and its leadership have upheld this position despite provocations of all sorts by some political parties and leaders but it is the responsibility of the Government to safeguard and protect their honour. It is high time, all parties commit themselves to principles-based politics and respect for law, Constitution and supremacy of Parliament. It is because of a lack of maturity among political forces that the country is witnessing continued uncertainty and instability, making it vulnerable to foreign pressures and blackmail. The Government’s line of action would become clearer after decisions of Parliament but there is still room for national reconciliation for the sake of the overall interests of the country.
