Of sovereignty and slavery

Of sovereignty and slavery

In a strongly worded speech in the parliament, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said on Thursday that the military is subservient to the parliament and will remain so.

The PM’s remarks came amidst growing rumours that a military coup was on the cards, posing threats to the current government. Dismissing such rumours, Gilani said “I want to make it clear today that conspiracies are being hatched here to pack up the elected government.”

Responding to reports suggesting that defence ministry conceded to the Supreme Court that it had no control over the armed forces or ISI, the prime minister took aim at the military in strong words.

“If they say that they are not under the ministry of defence, then we should get out of this slavery, then this parliament has no importance, this system has no importance, then you are not sovereign.”

Will the PM’s statements be effective in diffusing the rumour mill regarding a military coup?

How will the military respond to the remarks made by the prime minister and the defence ministry?

Should the military be accountable to the elected government?

How will this parliamentary speech affect the political situation of the country?

Dawn.com invites its readers to give their views and suggestions.

 

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195 Responses to “Of sovereignty and slavery”

  1. L Ahmad says:

    Incompetence at the helm. Are we so morally bankrupt that we would allow a corrupt president to hide behind the shield of immunity?

  2. Wazir Sattar says:

    I wish Pakistanis had a great like Sheikh Mujibur Rahman of Bangladesh to lead you to a permanent democratic, secular Pakistan.

  3. Shabir says:

    I ask everyone here.

    Which Military dictator has done any good for Pakistan?
    At least with Democracy we have a choice every few years. We need to nurture a democratic culture.

  4. We want some change.

  5. mehmoona says:

    what our politicians forget is that they are subservient to the people..
    .but like everything else meanings morph into different realities in our our country…our rulers democratically elected or otherwise, intially start behaving like monarchs and lateron like demi gods they think that by getting the peoples votes , the people are sentenced and subjected to their whims and wishes .
    .. in such cases reality checks are a must…they should realise that they exist because of our country and not vice versa..its time they gave something to the country rather than plunder it incessantly

  6. Iftekhar Hassan says:

    I don’t like PPP at all and never did and never will !

    However, this is a matter of democracy in Pakistan. That is why I am saying loud and clear. Military must remain subservient to the elected representative of the people. If necessary, Government should sack the whole army brass or whoever oppose backing the representative of the people to parliament. Let thir be civil war in the country. But, democracy must prevail.

    Only supreme on the land is the elected representatives of the people.

  7. Mohammad Ali Khan says:

    Back channel attempts at securing US support is a known fact.It is also known that our leaders do promise to carry on US agenda if and when they get into power.

    The bigger question is whether the Parliaments really represents the interest of the people of Pakistan?

    And looking at the scene;lack of energy,poor condition of railways and PIA,public health,public education,public water supply and sanitary infra structure,it looks like people’s representatives don’t feel accountable at all.

    The Parliament has to earn this leadership role by performing its duties.

  8. Mustafa says:

    It is a shame that Pakistani civil and military leaders have made a mountain out of a mole hill of “Memogate”. This worthless peace of paper has transformed many Pakistanis with supreme brains and intelligence as paranoids. The purported recipients of this peace of paper, the American government have already dubbed this paper as worthless. However, the Pakistanis are determined to make a mountain out of it regardless of how much money is spent on investigation and how this will affect the unity and solidarity of Pakistanis. What the memogate said is “a conspiracy by military to overthrow government of Pakistan and asking America to stop this over throw”. Anyone who is under the influence of “Bhaang” or “Ganjaa” or any intoxicant substance can shout these words on the streets of Washington. Will he be apprehended by Police? I doubt that.

    The memogate has no signature of President or Prime Minister of Pakistan or any government employee. Why the learned Pakistani leaders do not accept it as hoax and bogus. Even if it is true a Pakistani American Ijaaz indeed delivered the paper, it is well known that the Pakistani American Ijaaz does not represent Government of Pakistan. Also, it is for government of America (not Pakistan) to go after the man for delivering a hoax or bogus message to American authorities.

    All I can say “May Allah give wisdom to Pakistani leaders to refrain from unwarranted acts.”

  9. K. Pervez says:

    Article 2 of the constitution ask to establish sovereignty of state on land sea and air. Supreme court relied on it and held since Memo endanger life of Pakistanis, hence it is issue of fundamental rights and petition is maintainable. Now the question arises why supreme court rejected number of petitions filed against drone attacks, where not only sovereignty of land and air was thrashed but 35000 Pakistanis lost their lives, now their blood is at the hand of Iftekhar Ch because Article 2 of constitution was always there. So Asma is justified in saying this is judicery of establishment and not people. when will we open our eyes.

  10. sja says:

    The Prime Minister is so right that in Sovereignity there is everyone can see the Masoleum in Rato Dero and Naudero —- Those who die for poor people rest in Marbelized final resting places in the shadow of the famous seventh wonder of the world. In slavery he is very right the 90 person of people of Pakistan have to be bear the burdens of this type of democracy that keeps the plunderers in power as long as the term would last, the PM should have said that in our type of democracy is to vote for 5 years term and nothing else for one party, who cannot come out of the trance which set the tragedy for this country when it was cut off into Half, the meaning of sovereignity was not clear to the PrimeMinister of then PPP so how can it can be clear now after four decades. The same game is played back with new players that is sovereignity less serenity and lot of slavery.

  11. brahman says:

    The PM speech , i think did not know what he was saying, he gives a statement and deny it 2nd day or 2nd hour, it seems from his statements and body actions he is only concerned with his seat nothing else,
    he make appointments witout arrangements of finance,he has no knowldge of economy, he is only concerned to spend billions in his and his relatives constituencies to win next election.

  12. Syed Mohammad Husain says:

    I think the Apex court should complete the task before it regarding the memogate affair. The Parliamentary Committee should wait for the verdict.

  13. Alla Uddin Bacer says:

    that is what the sprite of PM. anyway some worry creates after the speech of Gilani, may be military coup again comes in Pakistan.

  14. Pms says:

    I think, this is the time to break the berlin wall and marge Pakistan and India. India already has strong political system, army will not dare to come back. After all, this was big country broken by British so two countries keep fighting and it will never become strong and bigger country. See what China is doing merged Tibet and now pushing Tivan. But India-Pakistan people are diffrent, they don’t do by force, I guess this is the time to merge and forget our diffrences and join for the future.

  15. hameedik. says:

    A persian proverb goes,” two things indicate a man’s weakness, to speak when it is not proper to speak, and not to speak when it is proper to speak” – this is what happens!

    • sarmad says:

      After his historic speech the PM got what he wanting to get. Nawaz Sharif said that he will not allow anybody to break the assemblies. CJ said gone are the days when courts give indemnities. Chief said that there is no coup coming. He proves himself a political animal and always be remembered for his boldness.

      • PS says:

        Three days after his ‘historic speech’ he ate back his words and said that “. . . while saying that he won’t allow state within state he meant the Defence Secretary.” You just have to listen to his two speeches one after the other and you will be left wondering where all his boldness evaporated in just two days.

      • Amjad Wyne says:

        Sarmad, what did the people of Pakistan get? “Boldness” is not when someone cannot keep his/her mouth shut. Power and wisdome do not reside in a person’s mouth.

  16. The Right Left says:

    The ground dymanics is fast changing in Pakistan. Gone are the days when the feudal can dictate his will through the use of military and mullah. The people want to take charge of their own destiny. Let this corrupt gvernment complete its term. Then throw them out thorugh the ballot. If PTI wins and works for the people then good for them. Otherwise they will go the same way as the PMLN adn PMLQ( the parties of the feudal ruling class), or the PPP that is just a dynastic party of the wadera class, not a whole lot different than the PMLs. Many more sincere and hard working Paksitanis will rise from the bottom to take the lead. Imran K is just a passing phenomenon. The Army will be well advised to stay out of the government and submit to the people’s representatives. The country is in no mood for another dictator. Game is up for the trio of Dictators(Army), feudal and the mullahs. There is no going back.

    • Babu says:

      This is the best advse for pakistan’s future.LET PEOPLE OF PAKISTAN DECIDES ITS FUTURE.

      • Mustafa says:

        Babu, it is very easy to say “LET PEOPLE OF PAKISTAN DECIDES ITS FUTURE.”
        Do you know how a country decides its future? They elect representatives who speak in legislature or Parliament and take a decision (by majority vote). Are Pakistanis not doing the same? They are doing it but you have people who want to by-pass the lawful system and shout slogans in streets and make protests and even use force to bring about changes. There is an approved way to decide future and there is also unlawful way to decide future. Which way do you want?

  17. Manu Bhatnagar says:

    Task of running South Asian nations is very complex and beyond competence of armed forces. Pak army has been skimming the cream of the nation leaving little for development by creating a scare of India, indulging in needless adventurism, promoting the terrorism which is now the bane of Pakistan. This is no longer possible in the day of the web and internet when people are getting better informed about their so called ‘enemies’. PM Gilani has done right but not enough.

  18. naseer says:

    prime minister was right that army should be obedient to civilian govt whatsoever and the civilian govt to the people.we the people of pakistan dont allow army to disgrace our mandate and why should they usurp the power given by us to the responsible repsentatives in lawmaking and lawenforcing chambers.they come and stay in power for decades without any mandate,without our being agree to them and we still dont agree with them in matters of statecraf.the army should respect our mandate and let the civilian govt carry their job in all departments according to our aspirations.it is only we who should decide the fate of govts and that too by a constitutional way ballot not bully

    • Abdul Qudus says:

      In principle the prime minister may be considered right. But ignoring the broader picture will be a mistake. PPP will never be a legitimate political Party because it rejected the first ever country wide held elections; the result was a lot of bloodshed & Pakistan was cut into half. Sr. Bhutto was a dictator who never allowed democracy. I remember how a news paper Anjam was banned only after 3 days of inauguration. PPP was ousted 2 times for corruption. Last year so called Mr. President was visiting France when his country men were suffering tremendously because of a flood. This year he is getting his little tender heart checking in Dubai when millions of Pakistanis do not have any access to medical facilities. Education system is broken, corruption is another name of Pakistan. How under the rule of PPP thousands of Pakistanis have been killed, and who is crying for them? I still do not understand why the assassins of Benezir & her brother Murtuza have not been brought to justice. Mr. Gilani, & Mr. Chaudhry(Justice) are nothing else but the buffoons we can not get rid of, I just simply do not have any strong words for Zardari, he is beyond redemption. A.Qudus.

    • Shafi says:

      So far the present army has done nothing to be blamed for. At present all the faults lie with the civilian government that is trying very hard to divert all the blame of their failure on the army . Naseer, please try to understand the political game being played at the populations expense. Population is being taken for a ride. So beware .

    • Amjad Wyne says:

      Except that the civilian government should not go to the US and request them to replace heads of Pakistani institutions. I am assuming that such an act does not fall under your aspirations or perhaps it does.

      • BRR says:

        All the people have to do is vote them out. Let the army for once stay out of this mess, but they dont want to do that. They see a chance to grab power again.

        • Shafi says:

          Antagonists of the army keep saying that that army wants to grab power being propagated by the politicians who only want to divert people’e attention from their corrupt behaviors. Where is the proof that army wants to grab power? Time and time again General Kayani has said that THE ARMY WANTS TO STAY OUT. How many soldiers have been killed ? Has any political leader attended their
          funerals? How many killer Talibans have been convicted? Army is fighting while the leaders are enjoying the perks and people are starving.

  19. mir m hussain says:

    Pakistan today is moving towards a democracy that was not sustainable in the past due to corruption
    in our political system and its leaders. This is a time for restrain and a lot of patience, with the most corrupt president sitting in the office and the present goverment not able to resolve the basic issues of the common people it is time for a change, let the change come through elections and not a coup, it is the people of pakistan who needs to make the change in 2013. we are seeing a great Surge with Imran Khans PTI, lets give him chance ans Inshallaha we will achive what Pakistan was formed for and the sacrifices our elders make to make this happen.

  20. Dur-e-Abbas Malik says:

    Ethically military should be under the control of elected Government. I am totally agreed with our PM views but as common citizen of Pakistan how we should expressed our anxiety about his inept Government. Nobody can deny the facts that current Government escalated the corruptions to its new height in our society. Due to nepotism & corruption all major Government dept are virtually ruined. Majority of population life is getting difficult & miserable with every passing day. People are committing suicide because rising of inflation, unemployment & insecure environment prevailed in his era. God sack if someone elected for five years, its not mean that he got a license to destroy every single dept or plunder the nation wealth with leaps and bounds. I believed Pakistan is good place for our PM or dear & near of him & rest all go to hell. Few people are enjoying with nation wealth & majorities are ignored.

  21. Shafi says:

    Army should be accountable to the nation. There should be some control by the government but mostly it should be independent just like the judiciary. However when our political and democratic system becomes mature then and only then the commander in chief of the armed forces should be the President with full executive powers.

  22. jamil zubairi says:

    Military should be accountable to an elected government not a selected government. The president is there because of an illegal ordinance the NRO. The parliament is made up of members who have been elected by ghost voters. Supreme court is looking into the matter that out of the total 85 million voters almost 35 million were bogus – this means that the polls were heavily rigged – it is not an elected parliament.
    Sadly the prime minister has shown that he does not have the intellectual depth to understand issues or even what is being discussed with him – as an example just see his press conference with Gordon Brown the British Prime Minister – the answers he gave to simple questions clearly showed that he does not understand simple things which are being discussed with him.
    No wonder the parliament elected by fraudulent means is finding it difficult to assert itself – sadly it has done nothing to attract any positive attention.

  23. Shafi says:

    In a real democracy if a government fails or unable to govern, it tenders its resignation and asks for a fresh election in order for the people to decide but in Pakistan any failed government sticks to the power and would use any means to do so. Under those circumstances the army would be helpless and there would be no chance of any coup. Why does not the government take that route?

    • sarmad says:

      The ball is in their court. They have their coalition intact which hold majority. People are not agitating on the roads. There is no major break down in law and order, even it is improving. If people are complaining for not having gas, electricty and drinking water then this did not happen over a night. All the previous government has to blame. Pakistan was and is always amongst the most corrupt country of the world if we go by the transparency international data with little bit ups and downs from one government to another. Only Nawaz Sharif can bring them in early election if his parliamentarians resign en masse.

  24. S K SAHOO says:

    Dear Pakistani People
    You are sovereign.You have the choice to elect good government or pull the bad government.Army must be apolitical to defend the nation under the democratic set up.Army can not interfere in any governance of a country,whether good or bad.It is not elected by the people.If army takes over by force.you have the power to teach the lesson,as Bangladeshis have shown in recent past.

    Again I repeat, you the people of Pakistan are sovereign in your decesion making.

    S K SAHOO,INDIA

  25. Arvind says:

    PM Gilani should be supported by all to ensure control of military and they have to be under Defence ministry. ISI should be separated and asked to report to Interior/Home ministry which will ensure continuous functioning of elected Govt. As there are many eligible officers in ISI and Army, PM should remove Keyani and Pasha. These soldiers should respect the PM,Parliament etc and they are not to rule the country. Remember how Mr Obama sacked a General and can anyone think of Army Chief infront of PM Manmohan? These are required for a stable Pak Govt. A stable Pak Govt will be able to do good for Pak people.India is not a threat to Pak as it is with Lanka or Bangladesh. Pak military is using it for their extra ordinary powers.

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