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.
I am little sad after going through all the comments. I wonder how confused is the mind of many many educated Pakistani who are not grasping and addressing the main question of sovereignty of a democratic government. How have they been lead to believe by constant propaganda that Pakistan Army has done much good to the country and have the the right to be free of civil authority. Over all it is disappointing to see the twisted arguments in support of Army.
If the Government were running the country in an ideal democratic way free from all sorts of corruptions in the people as well as in its key departments, there would be no need of any interference of the army of else as per its (Government’s/PM’s) presumption.
Hope the Government does the needful forthwith to uplift the nation/country in all aspects including economy, gas, electricity etc. and above all giving priority to eliminating/uprooting corruptions out of departments like revenue, defense, finance and such key organizations according to the law of the land, not lawlessly as that it seems and looks going on, so that none including army never feel or finds any relevant reason to interfere in its (Government’s) activities in future as that it happened in past rime and again .
If in case this Government finds its faults and weakness itself in running the country satisfactorily according to the majority people’s wish and desire, it (the Government) should disclose its inability with full pledged sincerity and loyalty so that the nation can realize its (this Government’s) problems it faces in its way of doings and thus it may win the hearts of the people to have better leaders reelected considering its greatness and willingness to work for prosperity, sovereignty and integrity of the country Pakistan, the land of lovely people of this grand and majestic nation.
May the lovely people’s beloved homeland, Pakistan be blessed till the day of judgement!
Dear A. R. Shams. Pakistan is filled with people like you who will find faults with any government of the day whether run by Yusuf Raza Gilani, Nawaz Sharif, Imran Khan or anyone else. This is not new. There is a mechanism to change government and this can be done only by the majority of Members of Parliament, not by protests in streets, shouting slogans or writing in Blogs.
Please distinguish between administrative and operational affairs, ministry of defense has administrative control on the forces but no operational control! if you hand over operational control of the forces to the politicians be ready to bear the pit falls also, ever had a chance to meet a politically appointed SHO, DCO, EDO and the list goes on.
Will the PM’s statements be effective in diffusing the rumour mill regarding a military coup?
No, The military does not care about any institution in Pakistan; history tell us Judges have always be a team of Generals not only legitimize their unconstitutional way of snatching the government from peoples of Pakistan but give General free hand to change constitution.
How will the military respond to the remarks made by the prime minister and the defence ministry?
Off course they will say military is not going to take over the government but again history tell us Don’t belief them, They pretend something and do something else.
Should the military be accountable to the elected government?
Every institution should be accountable to the elected government, no exception; but military bureaucracy will never accept it and they will do everything to avoid it and bring back their touts.
How will this parliamentary speech affect the political situation of the country?
Not sure, It’s a historical speech which exposed the real face of the army. Every Pakistani love their Army only if it follows law, unfortunately our army does not respect civilian institution. Army will never forget PPP and stab knife in politician back.
I would like to ask all readers that does so called democracy gives license to rulers to loot the country, destroy institutions and compromise national security? If not, who can stop them? I used the word so called democracy because previous and as a matter of fact none of previous elections in Pakistan were transparent. Current elected can not legitimately claim that they are true representatives of the people of Pakistan.
…….three outstanding factors which form the backdrop of the nation and we have ignored them have the make and break importance in the case of our country, that 1. we are an energy deficit country and can not afford to disregard outside world like iran, 2. within the country the kind of social contact among the people is tenuos at best and does not provide us the solid platform which could be used as a reliable base to project power out of the country, 3. 9/11 and obl incidents have provided material to the outside world against us which they can use against us and in the favour of india. in this backdrop, we should stop all the shenaegans and let the govt complete it’s term!
This is a redundant debate considering the Army Chief, General Kayani has denied any aspirations for a coup. In my opinion this is the time to show solidarity with Pakistan Army for its stand against US forces on the NATO attack on a Pakistani Armed Forces base on the border and for threatening to withdraw support in USA’s war in Afghanistan. We must understand in whose interest it is that our military is tamed and become subservient and why at this point in time. Every country has its special needs. It was unfortunate that the military had to take over so many times in the past but we must not forget that military is not to blame for it. We literally have no leadership in Pakistan and the irony is that people select the same faces again and again. So whose fault it is that we have a weak government. People get what they deserve.
I agree with most of your comments, however, military, no doubt comes under democratic government. I am sure that the day our political leadership proves that they are sincere, loyal and consider Pakistan its bread and butter, military would do it more willingly. How can we expect our military to toe the line of the government when every one other then the government knows that this memo is an issue. If it is not an issue then why haqqani is being shielded under the highest office, why not to accept the supremacy of judiciary and let them decide whether it is a piece of paper consisting lies or a reality undermining our national security and exposing real face and mentality of few in the government. PM had so far behaved well untill his speech in the parliament. Leadership makes the difference and our current military leadership has proved it that the man at the top is how an institution behaves. God bless our country and keep it safe from all evil desires / wishes.
What is wrong with ‘Memogate’. In fact the offer to the USA is just what is required for Pakistan to be redeemed out of the mess it is in.
Regarding ‘Ghairat’ – where does it exist now? America is bashing Pakistan left right and center every other day. They just fly in under your ‘great’ army’s nose and kill Osama and would have also taken his wives if one of the helicopters had not crashed.
Regarding corruption, is the Pakistan army less corrupt than the civilians? Corruption is directly proportional to chaos. Under chaotic situation whoever has power will be corrupt. Pakistan must find a way out of the chaos.
Suspend all your fake institutions and the humbug constitution and let America administer Pakistan for 10 years and ensure the security of Pakistanis and other people of the world and then introduce politicians in a phased manner before withdrawing. There is nothing in Pakistan to attract the Americans or for that matter any other country in the world hence don’t fear the Americans will not leave Pakistan.
Government should have realised of being slave to the military long ago. The manifesto of political parties after the assertion of PM should be: get rid of slavery both military and USA
The Army should be subservient to the government provided the government is sincere and performing its duties properly and is not corrupt and hatching scandals, the the SC and the COAS should have a talk with the PM and advise immediate elections if the government is corrupt and not performing and is getting unpopular.
Prime Minister spoke of slavery and sovereignty at time when government has fully been enslaved by the military. What people of Pakistan bore through the history of Pakistan either in the name of National security or democracy is not a worst kind of slavery.
Follow the British way. Divide and conquer.the British had intentionally divided the Indian Army into sector wise regiments, Punjab, Jat, Gurkha, Madras , Sikh etc.. The Pakistani army likewise must be splintered along racial and ethnic fault lines. Thats the only way to keep its power under check and report to a civilian government.
How can a general say anything about sitting prime minister who has mandate from people of Pakistan and has won the election fair and square?????
If Gen. Kayani wants to rule Pakistan, he should run for election. Why Army keeps ruining all democratic institutions? If Parliament is not sovereign, then People of Pakistan are not sovereign, cant they see it?
Army is for protecting Pakistan from outside danger not to rule Pakistan.
This ppp government is the most corrupt in the history of Pakistan mr gilani has no handle on the affairs of governing. To take care of the affairs of people of Pakistan is not rocket science people of Pakistan need water, electricity, gas, jobs, sugar, rice, atta, tea and government without corruption. But for the last 60 years we have not given them anything we talk about democracy what democracy have given them corrupt democratic leaders.
A good dictatorship is better than a corrupt democratic system like the present government, I will be happy if there is any military take over or change of government in any possible way. this current government led by zardari has ruined the country because of his favouring corrupt people and wrong policies its time to get rid of him and his party completely
Reading The Dawn on my computer screen, I have opinions about political leaders . The only honest politician is Prime minister.(don’t laugh if my assessment is plain wrong as I do not live here) Every statement he makes is meaningful and to the point. He is brave enough to tell military their place.People of your country shold be thankful of him. He is the only gem in the heap of coal.
For the first time in the history of Pakistan an elected PM has ridiculed its own military and paved the way for furious neighbours to confirm with proud that the Pakistan Army and ISI are not under the state control this is what they have been claiming for so many years. PM should have realized that he is speaking at the parliament and directly accusing its own military which a couple of days back he has been saying my military and my ISI. What made him to chose altogether a different course is the pressure from his boss not to repeat the history of Farooq Laghari. Everyone knows that military and ISI have taken a stand against USA and now it is USA who (through our government) is trying to undermine the military leadeship so as to provide and excuse to fulfill the agenda that had been promised through Memogate (change of military and ISI leadership). Please wake up and stand united in a moment of crisis. I dont claim for others but this Chief has supported the democracy more than anyone else. If not why did you so proudly claim only couple of days back that the Army and ISI presented themselves to the parliament for the first time under your government.
sorry, this chief is also from same lot. there is nothing bad in changing army leadership for good reasons.
they don’t have mandate of people of Pakistan. they are just servants, sub-ordinate to Federal Government.
Political Government is leading liberal population with mandate. Our ARMY is conservative. So, they should remain in barracks and follow orders from Liberal leadership.
Ok Politicians are corrupt but Military is much more corrupt.
Well while the rumours like Army contacting PML for overthrowing the PPP govt. is being written, can any brave PML person can come up and say in public ? Bluff of Kayani will be called..also CJ, SC should take written affidative from Kayani that no brigadier is contacting any party for support
The speech made by PM Gillani in parliament looks to me words of a very desperate person after playing all cards & still feeling that things are beyond his control. let me remind Mr. Gillani that he is not the chief executive of this country from the last week. he is PM for the last 3.75 years or so. what he is saying now he should have said it in his 1st speech after becoming prime minister but this was not the case. no such idea went across his mind till the day of this speech. he was more interested in governing than any thing else as he failed to see huge corruption & downfall of PIA, Pakistan Railways, Pakistan Steel, rental power stations any institution. after playing havoc to economy now he is trying to set the rules. I am sorry Mr. Gillani this is too late. Now let other political parties & army play with your own mistakes. lastly the purpose of army is to defend the country, which it failed by silently watching the drone attacks & lose of precious innocent lives, and not rule the country.
After Benazir’s assasination the people of Pakistan in sympathy elected the PPP government. This trust was soon shattered by President Zardari and Prime Minister Gilani, who embarked on unprecedented orgy of plunder and loot, destroying national institutions, getting involved in shocking scandals like rental power contracts, defying Supreme Court orders and bringing the country on the verge of economic disaster.
This government borrowed more money in four years, then all the previous governments did in the last sixty years, for which our children and grand children will be paying for decades to come. Therefore, this government should not only be removed immediately by democratic means, for it’s undemocratic and corrupt rule, but tried for treason, for endangering the very existance and survival of the country.
it is the time for all youngsters to decide whether they want democracy in a free and fair election or a new millitary coup. all the big parties are not democratic ,,,they are established for their next generations ,for thier own sons and daughters.plz pakistanis support those who are struggling for a free nation,,,free of feudal lords..free of industrialists,,free of corrupt leadership….
Prime Minister is The Chief Executive is Parliamentry system – three services chiefs are duty bound to report to Defence Minister, who is a member of cabinet and reporting to P.M. this is in vogue in this systen in entire democratic countries – this is what written in political science text books – unfortunaltly in our country despite passage of 18th amendment where entire powers transferred to P.M. he appears/acts weak by running to President on a petty matter, look at India, its P.M and President perform their functions as laid down. Here, Army Chief, even ISI chief appear on TV with President, with full uniform, stick in hand – at times no sign of P.M. who was ‘helplessly crying before National Assembly members’, seeking ‘help’.
P.M. must see video of speeches of Z.A.Butto, Khan Liaquat Ali Khan, Hussain Shaheed Sahwardy, and Muhammad Khan Junejo, and see what he observes.
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“The people will get the same kind of rulers they deserve”.
It is really true in Pakistan. The society respect Zamindari and power in its core form. They are happy to be slaves and so you can’t expect democracy to grow there.
In India , the common man is not that much honest and so we are not able to control corrupt to coming in Power.But they have a self esteem, so the democracy
The situation is really awful. One thing that comes into mind is the family politics or you can say Feudal are basically fighting their own fight with military establishment, this is more like Civil dictator vs Army dictator , why we don’t have democracy within Political party , I believe true democracy come to the country when a cobbler’s child or Farmer Child start to believe that one day even he can be President or Prime Minister of this country if he has potentials and eligibility when everyone have right to run in elections and work in Pakistani Political system and this is the only reason why People has tailored such type of behaviour and made the mind to accept the army involvement.
Khaki has no right to govern the country.They are state servant and they should remain servant not the master.The result of their rule is evident for the entire masses of Pakistan.They should keep themselves in their barracks. That shall be best for this country as well as for them too,