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.
slavery and sovereignty comes from within,if playing with merit and going for personal gains then other exploit and ultimately one lands him selves into slavery and this what in our case.Another cause is if planted people are not screened properly through counter intelligence then troubled.
Before criticizing military in the parliament PM should have a thorough look on the performance of his so called democratic government that how far they were delivering to the nation in response to the mandate given to them by the people of Pakistan.Instead of providing relief to the masses they have made their lives cumbersome. Load shedding of electricity and gas has adversely effected industry which is posing serious threat to the economy of the country.Law and order situation in the country is deplorable.Life of common man has become very difficult.In such of affairs certainly people look for military to take over and distribute sweets.Prime minister please mend your ways to avoid such unpleasant situation.
Why military coup? Why not people’s power to decide?
If the govt is clean handed in the matter of memogate scandal then why they are not submitting their explanation to supreme court rather to make excuses by making indirect attack on military establishment. its the prime minister and president duty under the constitution of the state they should take action themselves in such matters but unfortunately they are avoiding the matter rather than to get to the bottom. This attitude of the govt confirms that there is some thing wrong which they can not answer properly.
The military is accountable to the people of Pakistan who have chosen the civilian federal government as their elected representatives. The military should do some introspection and account to the people its failures in wars against India, the loss of East Pakistan. Only when this is possible, then civil law will be supreme. Nobody is above the law, the previous learnt it much to their dismay.
There is no ambiguity here at all. The military is subservient under law to the civil federal government establishment in Pakistan. In reality how this shapes up practically, you have your answers through 1958.
Agree that a democratically elected Government should complete its full 5 years yerm. But the question is if the Government is not performing and because of the their majority in Parliament what is the alternative. Army coup or Justice of Peace to interfere or people to come out of their homes to protest. So far this is happening. So the question is what is really the alternative. Obvisouly Government will not commit to re-election. Therefore under current scenario only people of the country who can over throw the Government.
Only the majority of elected members of the parliament have the right and power to decide whether the government is performing or not performing properly. Neither Fazil Khan, nor Mustafa nor any “Joe Who” has any say on it. Like it or not. Period.
Mohammed Ali Jinnah did not create Pakistan for the army of Pakistan — or for the Jamaat-e Islami.
Neither did he create it for the corrupt elite of Pakistan to take it to brink of destruction. I am for the rule of law but that rule of law must apply to those who sit in these assemblies and ministries as well. I can bet you majority of these elected members including would be behind bars if they were in a western democracy. If these so called democrats apply some principles to themselves, no military would ever dare to even think of insubordination. It is all within them. Police is under these politicians, isn’t it? Do you see in what state the police in Pakistan are?
Mohammad Ali Jinnah definitely created Pakistan for the people. Rule of law applies to all the Pakistanis including those sitting in assemblies and those living in barracks. In Pakistan 64 years history military broke rule of law more than politicians. We did not see any better police under military than today. If we have bad politicians and democracy not delivering then still good option is to let this procedure continued. Bad democracy can repair itself as it is answerable to people. On the other hand a military dictatorship cannot because it does not drive its power from vote.
Too little, too late. The Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani should have shown this courage. He and his ruling PPP saw political dividends in keeping mum at a time when the Opposition Muslim League (N) was spear heading the charge against the forces to undermine the democracy. He ringed alarm bells only when much has happend. He failed to see or simply ignored the veild “dvide and rule” policy. And now its too late.
PM probably was misled by some mischievous people around him. He is not the sort to have utter such derogatory remarks about the defenders of the nation.
Gen Kayani has reiterated umpteen times that Army has no intention to get the Institution involved in politics. He is to be acknowkledged for the services which he has rendered to strengthen democracy in the Country. He has led the Armed Forces of Pakistan against obscurantist forces from the front. He has defied Indian aggressive overtures aimed at coercing Pakistan and even confronted the sole super power of the world and other major NATO powers to defend the national interests of Pakistan.
He recognizes candidly that Army has no role in politics and it is subversient to the civilian government. If Army had any intention to take over the power, present Government has provided it at least half dozen opportunities to do that.
PM’s comments were very insulting and derogatory for the armed forces. I’m sure our enemies in India, Afghanistan and elsewhere must have dansed with joy to hear these preposterous comments about the defenders of the nation.
Perhaps Khanjee you should read wiki leaks in more detail.
Soon after the first major flood that caused so much destruction, and when Zardari failed to respond sympathetically, Gen Kayani has been reported to ask the Americans about the possibility of a Military take over, and the American attitude towards such an enterprise.
The Americans asked Kayani to refrain.
Its the moral authority which makes Gov. strong. under current Gov. Look affairs of Railway,PIA,PK Steel,WAPDA,OGDCL the only institution working in PAK is army for GOd Sake if this gov. control it what happens. They definitely make army chief an SHO to control their opponents.
Words spoken by the PM on the floor of the house were not his but of Haqqani. State within a state is his favorite term, so is the insinuation hidden in wise crack “… on who gave visa to OBL”. In fact it has appeared in a news item where Haqqani jokingly asks his friends on whose visa OBL was living in Pakistan. And remember he is residing in PM house.
The PM is in fact a very soft spoken person and keeps doors open in most assertions.
Pakistan need an Anna Hazare. Better if they can take the one from India. Will solve half of Pakistan’s and half of India’s problems.
Gilani did right but too late. Gen. said every thing but did not reply of the questions what PM raised in Parliament. With reference to known journalist that MEMO case was brought to SC by Nawaz Sharif was the result of a meeting with a general. If it is correct, then Gilani is right to call it a conspiracy by army to remove elected government. I do not know what will be result of all this fuss, but one thing is clear that an open discussion has started about the political role of army within public and media. As I see how some journalist have come out on this matter in media. What will end of it God knows better. But it is serious thing in our history. Certainly our enemies will be very happy on this matter.
if jinnah was alive he would have said that voters are the sole authority of the Democratic Pakistan and Army the servants of the voters.
PM Gilani strong speech indeed did the job — no military takeover.
Dispute all the shortcomings of this government, this probably one time, when I whole heatedly support the comments made by the prime minister. This is historic by Pakistan’s standard. Army and ISI have always controlled Pakistan, one way or other. They are not accountable to the civilian government. That’s the main reason, Pakistan has failed to succeed in last sixty years or so. Most of our budget is spent on defense. We should be spending the most providing education and basic necessities like: electric, gas and security to the people. Only reason Army has gotten a free pass so far is because, our civilian government has been corrupt and inept. No matter, how bad the civilian government is, Army still should be accountable to them. Thanks Gillani for finally standing up against the army and establishment, who have now found a new player: Imran Khan.
Imagine, Army under a civilian government. You know what it means? It means, Army obeying grossly incompetent, corrupt, politicians.
Before commenting on Army and its sincerity to this democratic set up their performance not hidden from anybody still these so called people,s govt inviting Washington govern our country. Secondly,in Pakistan one thing is very strange for the reason that most of the politicians,generals,judges and bureaucrats are blood relations and they belong to few families.
If civilians are incompetent as you say, why not elect President, Prime Minister and all Members of Parliament from the Army. In fact President of Pakistan should be the Commander Inchief just like Obama in USA.
What makes you think the the Army is very competent and any less corrupt. Look at their track record.
PML-N and PPP have one thing common now a days:
when PPP is asked about their corruption and anti state activities they start shouting about conspiracy of military coup against them and so called democracy.
same when PML-N see itself loosing in Punjab they start shouting about military establishment helping other parties against them.
what a shame…what a shame, its kind of funny
main problem of Pakistan is faulty constitution ,on other hand in India there is full control of elected gov on there army
@Mayur
I disagree with you.
Pak constitution is as good as Indian if not better.
After the division of our countries, Pak had only one leader viz Jinnah and after Jinnah there was
a vacuum created because of lack of strong leaders who could not take the place of Jinnah.
But India after Gandhi, there were many leaders like Nehru, Vallabh bhai patel, Rajendra Prasad,
Radhakrishnan, Rajaji, Shastri and so many others to fill the vaccum created after the death of Gandhi.
Reaction coming from all sides against remarks of Prime Minister have surprised me a little. I am surprised that in his speech he simply said – rather in a firmer tone that too for the first time- that military should be under an elected civilian Govt and that no one can be allowed to even think of having a state within state.
I personally see nothing wrong with his statements. There’s nothing in his words that should have had such a strong reaction both from people and political leaders in opposition a like. What surprises me most is that in the recent past when Nawaz Sharif our beloved leader of opposition had publicly said so much hatred things against Pak military.
Why this duplicity? Why we do not have courage to denounce someone very powerful and wealthy if he speaks against our country’s core institutions like military in our enemy’s language????
Why we are mum then????
SHAHID HUSSEIN QABOOLPURIA,
LAHORE, PAKISTAN
First, Nawaz is not the government of the time; Gilani is.
Second, yes, there should have been reaction.
Looks good and should be considered as an attempt to put every institution within its framework.. Indeed we need a lot fore for mutual respect and abiding the costitution
The worthy PM spoke about the conspiracy against his government. I do not know which conspiracy he is talking about. He should specifically inform the nation about its nature and who is hatching it. If he was referring to the memogate scandal; Nawaz Shariff approached the SC which is absolutely constitutional, SC asked explanations from the Army and the ISI. Both submitted explanations according to the requirements of the constitution. Now the case is in the SC where the verdict will be given. WHERE IS THE CONSPIRACY? Everything is going in a way it is suppossed to be in any democracy. The only thing that is unconstitutional is that, Mr Zardari has not submitted his reply so far.
All major institutions in the country have been brought to the brink of destruction by this government of ours, in the name of democracy. Now they are hell bent to destroy the only institution that is left. Army has protected the wish of our poor nation by not letting this government fall and is continuing doing that. The recent statement of COAS has dispelled all speculations. We must support our Army…..this is the only hope we have and pray for some miracle before it is too late.
The defense minister stated that his ministry has only administrative control of the military and not operational control. Please give me one example of any country in the world where the ministry of defense has operational control over the military. Do we want our worthy defense minister to plan operations for the armed forces. COME ON…..
Military take over will not be acceptable to our great nation. This democratically elected government must stay and let everyone enjoy the fruits of democracy. Once we are fully satisfied enjoying the fruits; we can think of some options provided our country would still be there to think about…….
Taste of POWER is even worse than power. It is the most powerful lust.