Amidst Democracy

By Engr. Hadeed A Sher

* Based on published interviews, books and news reports.

Prior to October 12, the most flabbergasting issue floating on the political surface of Pakistan was the Kargil fiasco. A lot has been written on the Kargil fiasco and despite the fact that during the Kargil misadventure it was Mian Nawaz Sharif who was held responsible for the "defeat" of Pak army.  Later on, after few years, when the dust settled it was revealed that Gen Musharraf and his triumvirate was responsible for the deaths of thousand of Pakistani soldiers across the LoC. The inane operation in the mountains of Kargil however, created a lot of misunderstanding between the bloody civilian government and the pious military clan.

In late September '99 Mian Nawaz Sharif went to Quetta on a visit where senior officials welcomed him. Among those officials was the corps commander of the  XII corps of Pakistan Army, Lt. Gen. Tariq Parvaiz. Gen Tariq Parvaiz was the cousin of the PM's cabinet member and it was made famous that he requested to meet the PM while his stay in Quetta. According to the interview of PM Nawaz Sharif, conducted a few years later, Mian Nawaz Sharif categorically denied that he never met Gen Tariq Parvaiz that day but the CoAS Gen Musharraf forced resigned the Lt. Gen Tariq Parvaiz on account of meeting the PM without his approval. While doing so Gen Musharraf forget how he met the PM on a single call from the PM house in Oct 1998, that too without getting approval from the army chief. It was evident that a tension is going on between the premier office and the GHQ. Parvaiz Musharraf also transferred the Corps Commander Mangla Lt. Gen Saleem Haider on the charges of leaking the information of corps commander meeting to the PM. News reports tells us that Mian Nawaz Sharif felt embarrassed on the press release about the cause of retirement of Lt. Gen Tariq Parvaiz. According to an interview, later published in a book "The Traitor Within", Mian Nawaz Sharif said that it was an insult of the democratically elected PM of Pakistan, after all Tariq Parvaiz in Quetta, if it is considered true, met the Pakistani PM not the Indian". Later the PM was told that an official negation will be published in the national newspapers about this issue. But it never happened since, Gen Musharraf left for Siri Lanka the next day. The CoGS Lt.Gen. Saaed ul Zafar tricked the Sec. Defense Lt. Gen (R) Iftikhar by saying that he is not in contact with the CoAS. It should be kept in mind that according to the PM Nawaz Sharif, Gen Musharraf use to abuse him in private meeting and two months prior to Oct'99 , in a meeting he said about PM that I will Sort this bastard out.

Not many would have bet that Prime Minister Of Pakistan would announce to invoke Article 6 against Dictator Mushraf but yes miracles do happen and dreams do come true. Pakistan seemed to have detracted from the Quaid vision of "Civilian Supremacy" and a country where civilian will take the driving seat, take key decisions on interior and foreign policy but alas down the road we lost that dream and "State" became a ping pong between "Dictatorship and Democracy". Dictators ruling the country in the name of larger interest and indirectly meddling in civilian matters even when they were not in power, end result Pakistan State heading towards economic bankruptcy, Sectarian chaos, Institutional collapse and breeding ground for terrorist activities..

It's a fact intermittent "Coups" and hatching conspiracies against civilian rules caused lots of damage to the state, only one Institution was able to prosper and stand on its own was "Pakistan Armed Forces" and I think that's where they remained successful and able to rule because of their superior institutional depth and resources available to them. They were able to manipulate the system and turn horrendous acts like "Kargil" in their favor and hence were able to sent packing a sitting Prime Minister who won by 2/3 majority. Sitting Prime Ministers were jailed, hanged and exiled, literally leaving a black dot on Pakistani history. 

But miracles do happen and history took a new turn, Judiciary historically worked as a subordinate institution to establishment and validated their illegal acts, hanging one sitting Prime Ministers and Life imprisonment to the other on orders of their masters, found a new lease of life when "Justice Iftikhar Ch" took over as "Chief Justice Of Pakistan" and started making few independent decisions in dictatorial regime, threatened by his powers, Dictator threatened him and asked him to resign from his post, Iftikhar Ch for once wrote his name in Pakistan's Judicial History with stood the pressure and said no to Dictator, starting the beginning of a new struggle, ending in historic long March and his reinstatement, importantly laying foundation of a judicial institution.

Secondly Credit must be given to "Nawaz Sharif", standing by the judiciary and leading that historic "Long March" ending in Judges Reinstatement. But he didn't stop here, remained very vocal about Democratic values and his commitment to Parliament as an institution. He was the sole reason "Zardari Regime" was able to complete their term because he was very clear in his mind that people of Pakistan trusted PPP and voted them to power, his popularity which skyrocketed after Long March, took a big hit and allowed Imran Khan PTI to emerge as a force. But Nawaz Sharif believed in people's wisdom, turned down every opportunity to topple Zardari Regime unconstitutionally and unlawfully, stuck to the Democratic and Parliamentary norms, acted as a Statesman, in the end he was proved right, his perseverance with Democracy, trust in the people of Pakistan paid, was elected by simple majority by people of Pakistan and literally wiped off PPP from Pakistan and restricting them to a regional party.

Pakistan Print Media and Social Media acted as a rumor factory, many senior and renowned journalists talked about NRO 2, many political activists started promoting the idea that Nawaz Sharif winning of GE was part of the deal and giving Mushraf's safe passage was mandatory according to that deal. Columns written and stories were broken on a daily basis in print and Social Media, whispers were heard about electronic Media as well. This was more or less the same group who was declaring 2013 GE rigged ones and finding excuses for their disastrous predictions regarding Polls despite every survey declaring PMLN front runner with PTI a force as well but still a long way from getting a simple majority. Unfortunately people were bombarded with "Tsunami" rhetoric's to such an extent that PTI voters believed in PTI victory, their emergence as the second biggest party in elections was not enough for their young and exuberant supporters because they were told all along about the Tsunami and the clean sweep. PMLN won the GE and one started to hear NRO 2 again, daily rumors of Mushraf leaving the country, stories of "Saudis and Americans" breaking the deal but in the mean while Courts kept on doing their job and it was a business as usual. Nawaz Sharif kept his cards close to his chest until the Supreme Court during the hearing asked the then Care taker rulers about their position on Article 6 and imposition of emergency on 3rd November but Care Takers remained mum and elected Government had to take the decision. Nawaz Sharif stunned everybody and announced to invoke Article 6 against the Dictator, puncturing rumors of NRO 2, impressing everyone with his decisions and wisdom.

Now let us come to the very important point why on earth Mushraf left a peaceful self exiled life in the UK and came back. There are two reasons, he was fed wrongly that he was very popular, his Facebook got a million likes and thousands add to daily. Secondly he was of the view that current Establishment will bail him out and he be allowed to contest Elections, his Face book likes will materialise into a big victory, despite the fact that current Military Regime led by General Kiyani asked him many a times to stay away from Pakistan but General Mushraf seems to be an arrogant man, as I still remember his famous saying "Mein Aik Commando Hoon, Mein Darta Werta Kisi Sey Nahi Hoon", another saying "Those who haven't taken the Oath are no more judges of Supreme Court and High Court", rubbishing all the warnings and coming back, infect threatening Establishment that if he was not protected he will name many and Military as an Institution will pay the price of his wrong doings, his Lawyers are already talking about opening up a Pandora's Box by invoking Article 6 against Mushraf as many will go down with Mushraf.

Now one should hope and pray that the Establishment will take it as an act of one individual, think in the larger interest of the country. General Kiyani seems to have learned a lot and under his Command things have definitely taken a turn and moving in the right direction. The Pakistani Nation must rejoice the true emergence of another Institution "Parliament" under the leadership of Nawaz Sharif , must not be carried away by the events because it is a big step forward to lock a dictator and impeaching him under Article 6, it doesn't matter what is the outcome of the case but history has been made and many have been proved wrong.