Roohi Wanchoo
The people of Pakistan are feeling highly frustrated after the prolonging of current political state of affairs in the country. Political situation in Pakistan is aggravating day by day. The so called “democracy” has exacerbated the situation further. There was a time when people had political indifference towards Pakistani politics, but that lack of concern is very quickly and aggressively transforming into extreme aversion. People have lost all faith in the political system of Pakistan all the political parties have to provide the things they promised. People have come to the point that they are endeavoring to find every possible way to flee from this country never to come back the place which can only give injustice to the poor and justice to the rich.
On the other hand many of us give the example of recent thwarted coup by a portion of Turkish army by the brave Turks. In Pakistan, the immediate impact of events in Istanbul was that those inviting military intervention here got really dejected. There were some who had already concluded that Erdoğan had become history. The Turkish military’s failed coup attempt came at a time when in Pakistan some so-called political non-entities displayed banners in different parts of the country inviting Army Chief General Raheel Sharif to stage a military coup. Some media anchors and columnists here have also been beseeching the military to topple the “elected” government.
Pakistan is a country of contradictions, but nowhere are these contradictions as sharp as in the attitude and policies of the civilian and military leaderships. The military has been fighting a battle of existence against an internal threat, with a focus and determination not witnessed before. Hardly a day passes when the army and paramilitary forces do not shed their blood to regain lost territory to militant groups, or to weaken them as a whole. Already, the number of those martyred since 2003 is over 6,000, with thousands more having been injured and disabled. Yet, the military’s determination remains steadfast and unwavering. In addition, General Raheel Sharif is committed with a passion to cleansing Karachi and Sindh of drug mafias, land grabbers and militant groups of political parties.
The dirty reputations of political leaders have indirectly contributed towards raising the stature of the military. This is allowing it greater space to expand its influence. One honestly feels that amidst this muddy situation it would be very easy for the army to intervene and pack up the system just like that; however, for the first time Pakistan army is showing wisdom and has expressed its disinterest to be the part of a mucky system. Here a bitter truth needs to be addressed; those who think that army is not wrapping the system merely because they are scared of a replay of Istanbul are drastically mistaken. They should not forget that there is a mark difference between the Turk nation and Pakistan and there are many factors that dictate that difference. If in Turkey people came out on roads then in Pakistan in any such case they are expected to come out in jubilation. The reasons are well known to all. Now talking of those who are condemning army for not a takeover, let’s ask them that what reward did army get in past for any such adventure? The sad reality is that every time our politicians make a real mess of the national affairs and then cunningly try to drag the army in the affairs, make it controversial and provoke to an extent that they find no option other than going for an adventure.
However the army has realised it now and not interested anymore to get trapped. We are seeing that since many months every now and then some new issue is purposely raised and army is dragged in it. They are made to fight on external as well as internal front at the same time which is seriously harming their efficiency. Who should be blamed for that is not a very difficult question to be answered.
The point is that the army is custodian and Pakistan as good belongs to them as good as it belongs to the people of Pakistan. It’s the moral obligation of the people to stand up for their rights and to protect their motherland themselves instead of looking towards the forces. The people should not every time look for an intervention by the army. The forces know their mandate very well and are fully aware that at what time they are supposed to step-in; certainly when God forbid the sovereignty of Pakistan is in danger.
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