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Pakistan in Uncertain times as Army takes over

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Islamabad: As Pakistan Army continues its offensive “Zarb-e-Azb”, in North Waziristan, an operation underway to root out terrorists from the area; a major retaliatory action is feared by the dreaded Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants, forcing the Nawaz Sharif government to call in armed forces to secure key installations in Islamabad.

The government has decided to hand over security of key installations to the Pakistan Army for at least three months, focusing on areas in Islamabad’s Red Zone, housing President, Prime Minister, Parliament, Supreme Court of Pakistan, Diplomatic Enclave and other important government installations.

The Pak troops will ensure security as “Rapid Response Force” in the federal capital from August 1 till October 2014. The decision comes even as at least 0.9 million people have been displaced and relocated to IDP camps in Khyber Pukhtunkhwa province following the military offensive against Taliban.

 

Taliban’s revenge

Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) announced its launch of operation against Pakistan Army naming it ‘Zarb-e-Momin’, in payback for the militants (about 500) killed. Now that Ramadan month is over, Pakistan government fears militants will begin by targeting major cities across Pakistan.

“The Army will be used for rapid response, patrolling and checking for a period of 90 days. Islamabad Capital Authority (ICT) is to be secured by Pakistan Army under Article 245 of the Constitution of Pakistan, read with Anti-Terrorism Act 1997 to tackle any retaliatory attack, carried out in reaction to operation Zarb-e-Azb.” said a government spokesperson.

But analyst belief this step will deprive all the major decision making entities of the civilian government of their powers, as the Pakistan Army has always operated as an autonomous force.

“This is for the first time in Pakistan’s troubled political history that a civilian government has handed over the security of the capital to the army, thereby giving much leverage in security and related affairs to the army, which will be immune from the writ jurisdiction of the superior judiciary. Traditionally, the army functions autonomously in coordination with the civil administration but takes orders from its own superiors.” said political analyst Hasan Askari.

 

Calling the Army to manage the federal capital operations also highlights some very important aspects.

– It will increase the confidence and relation between the military establishment and the civilian government and will be a good drill, when it comes to handling civilian affairs as a military-civilian tag team.

– It exposes the inability of the Nawaz Sharif government in handling its primary task of running the political government. Nawaz Sharif’s fears of losing to the political parties ganging up against his government.

– Pakistan doesn’t come with a history of having a political government that has control over the Army. This raises questions on how long will the army do the task assigned by the civilian government.

– Nawaz Sharif government was toppled by the then Army chief General Pervaiz Musharraf in 1999 as the Pakistan Army took over and the political government through a military coup, throwing Nawaz Sharif in prison. This makes the situation critical, as the men in uniform who destroyed his earlier rule may not take orders from the civilian government led by the same Sharif.

 

Political tackle

Critics suggest the step to call for a military rule is to tackle the upcoming rallies called by Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) on August 14, which claims to bring over 1 million people from across Pakistan to the capital. The party aims to declare the ruling political government as a party that has come in power through massive rigging during the elections.

Dr. Tahir ul Qadri, leader of Pakistan Awami Tehrik (PAT) has also called for a long march towards Islamabad on August 14. He also aims to topple the civilian government, which he accuses of being corrupt and illegal.

The government on the other hand has come out with clarification on the matter, assuring that the Army has been called in to assist the already in place security forces.

 “Neither Islamabad is being handed over to the Army nor is there any relevance of August 1. In fact, the army has been called out to assist the police and civil administration for a limited period to avert any possible terrorist attack and to maintain law and order in Islamabad”.

 

Army in denial

Surprisingly, there has been no notification given ahead to the Pakistan Army as officials have denied receiving any intimation from the government.

While the government and Army, struggle to have the same voice over the matter, locals in Islamabad have a mixed feeling over government’s decision.

Talking to Newsmobile Asia, locals said “Islamabad has been secured by Rangers already, as they patrol around the city all the time. Bringing in the army can have both positive and negative impacts on Islamabad. It will be a great decision if some planned attack by the terrorists is foiled during these three months. If not, then it will be taken as a drill to undermine civilian powers and let them be governed by the strict army officials, that includes the judiciary also, which was kicked out by the then Army Chief Pervaiz Musharraf”

Army’s deployment in the capital and the uncertain statements from the government ranks, has raised concerns of a silent military coup initiation, starting from August 1 2014.

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