A happy augury
Undoubtedly, the Pakistan Army has emerged as the guardian of democracy. It is for the second time in the country’s otherwise checkered political history that the military has indulged in such an exercise. Earlier at the time of Gen. (retd) Mirza Aslam Beg, when he took over the command in the wake of President Gen. Ziaul Haq’s death. Gen. Beg opted for civilian rule and now the credit goes to Gen. Sharif.
However, there is a huge difference between these two army chiefs. Gen. Beg, no doubt, resisted temptation to take over and requested the then Senate chairman Ghulam Ishaq Khan to call for general elections in 1988.
The 1988 elections are seen as the second most transparent elections after 1970 in the history of Pakistan. Unfortunately, unnecessary hobnobbing between Gen. Beg and Benazir Bhutto, then co-chairperson of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), blurred the post-election scenario.
Both Nawaz Sharif, head of his own faction of the Pakistan Muslim League (PML), and Benazir Bhutto failed to gain majority in the Parliament and had to content with a hung parliament. Late Brig. Tafazzul Siddiqi, as ISPR chief and the right-hand man of Gen. Beg, and the Daily News editor, Wajid Shamsul Hasan, pleaded Benazir’s case with Beg. While the terms of the agreement, remain unknown till date, Benazir was installed in authority.
Around 15 days — from Nov. 16 to Dec. 2 — were wasted. Why? We don’t know yet, but future historians will perhaps describe it as criminal.
Sharif had to remain content with his chief ministership of Punjab. Benazir’s journalist friend, a lady from England, wrote in her book that the military smiled as the PPP leader took oath of office. Later, Beg got Benazir ousted from authority on Aug. 6, 1990. Later evidence of his involvement in floating the Islami Jamhuri Ittihad (IJI) has been recorded in Supreme Court’s case of Air Marshal Asghar Khan.
No evidence of such maneuvering is available now. Analysts following Imran Khan’s dharna (sit-in) politics of 126 days last year, look convinced that the army could have easily taken over when protesters raided the Parliament house or the PTV headquarters. The situation was ripe for any kind of eventuality. But it was Gen. Sharif who resisted the temptation, and opted for democratic dispensation.
An analysis of this kind, can be contested or even rebutted, but a general assessment was that the army had all the options open for it. The fact it chose to side with the Parliament’s sentiments, showed that Gen. Sharif acted in the larger interest of the country.
He is a professional soldier. His entire family has a rich history of decorating itself with gallantry awards, including his elder brother Maj. Shabbir who was honored with the highest military award Nishan-e-Haider.
Gen. Sharif’s presence on forward positions in Miran Shah and other hotspots of “Zarbe Azb” is enough to prove his heroism, courage and conviction for a cause, which is focusing on enhancing the professionalism of the army, and making it a real fighting force.
Pakistan is lucky to have such an army chief. The elected government of Nawaz Sharif too, realizing his priorities, has been consulting him constantly on innumerable issues, including foreign policy. Such cohesion is a happy augury for the country.
Disclaimer: Views expressed by writers in this section are their own and do not necessarily reflect Arab News' point of view
